Klay Thompson's impressive performance, including a career milestone, led the Mavericks to a decisive victory over the Jazz!
Published on January 18, 2026, at 8:45 AM CST, this game was a showcase of Dallas's offensive firepower. Klay Thompson's first-half performance was nothing short of spectacular, scoring all 23 of his points before halftime. This included the monumental 17,000th point of his illustrious career. The Mavericks dominated the Utah Jazz, securing a convincing 138-120 win, completing a two-game sweep.
This victory marked the third time these teams have clashed in a short span of just 10 days. While Utah managed to secure a home win on January 8th with a score of 114-112, Dallas has now convincingly won the last two games, including a 144-122 triumph on Thursday.
The Mavericks faced some key absences, with Cooper Flagg sidelined for a second consecutive game due to a left ankle sprain, marking the first injuries of his rookie season. They were also without Anthony Davis (finger), Kyrie Irving (knee), and P.J. Washington for personal reasons. Despite these setbacks, the remaining Mavericks stepped up.
Thompson, coming off the bench, was on fire. He made a pair of 3-pointers and then hit a turnaround jumper in the lane with under five minutes left in the first quarter to reach his career milestone of 17,000 points. His shooting efficiency was remarkable, hitting 7 out of 12 shots overall and 6 out of 11 from beyond the arc. He led the Mavericks in scoring for the second straight game in Flagg's absence, following his season-best 26 points in Thursday's win.
Other Mavericks also shone. Brandon Williams and Max Christie each scored 22 points, Naji Marshall added 16, Jaden Hardy contributed 12, and Dwight Powell had 10. The Mavericks, who entered Saturday with wins in just two of their last five games, found their rhythm.
On the Jazz side, Keyonte George led all scorers with 29 points, Brice Sensabaugh had 25, and Ace Bailey scored 18. Kyle Filipowski contributed 13 points and 12 rebounds, while Cody Williams scored 11. The Jazz struggled from the start, trailing 42-29 after the first period and never recovering.
Utah was missing their scoring leader, Lauri Markkanen, who was out for a third consecutive game due to illness, and Walker Kessler, who was sidelined with a shoulder injury.
Up Next:
- Jazz: At San Antonio on Monday, concluding a five-game road trip.
- Mavericks: At New York Knicks on Monday.
What are your thoughts on Thompson's performance and the Mavericks' ability to overcome key player absences? Do you think the Jazz can turn things around in their next game? Share your opinions in the comments below!
