With All-Star point guard Luka Doncic still sidelined with a calf strain, the Dallas Mavericks were going to need someone else on the team to step up in the absence of their franchise centerpiece heading into Game 2 against the Utah Jazz. That responsibility was always going to fall on the shoulders of one of — or both — Jalen Brunson and Spencer Dinwiddie, but it was a matter of if they could answer the call. On Monday night, Brunson certainly lived up to the tall task, as he poured in 41 points en route to Dallas’ 110-104 win over Utah to even the series at 1-1.
Brunson’s heater of a performance started early in the game, as he rattled off 15 points in the first quarter. He was knocking down 3s, getting to the rim and hitting a couple of in-between looks, and the Jazz just simply didn’t have an answer for him in the early going. But where his scoring really mattered was in the fourth quarter, where he put up 10 points and made clutch shots down the stretch to keep the slight lead for Dallas and ultimately win the game.
Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic (calf) will not play in Game 2 tonight against the Utah Jazz.
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) April 18, 2022
Luka Dončić (left calf strain) has been officially ruled OUT of tonight's Game 2 against visiting Utah, Mavericks coach Jason Kidd said this morning.
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— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) April 18, 2022
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