– ‣ The Dallas Mavericks achieved a total of 18 slam dunks in their win against the Utah Jazz, tying for the second-most dunks in an NBA game since the 1997-98 season, according to Elias Sports.
– ‣ Daniel Gafford, playing for the Mavericks, made a franchise-record 10 dunks in the game, marking the highest number of dunks by an NBA player since Rudy Gobert’s performance in March 2022.
– ‣ The Mavericks’ victory over the Jazz contributed to their positioning in the Western Conference standings, marking their third consecutive win and seventh in the last eight games, tying them with Phoenix at a 41-29 record.
The Mavs had 18 dunks in tonight's 113-97 win vs. UTA. Per @EliasSports, the team's 18 dunks are tied for the second-most dunks in a game since 1997-98 (20, LAC, 12/21/19; 18, WAS, 12/1/21).
— Mavs PR (@MavsPR)
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Wow, did you catch that game last night? The Dallas Mavericks were on fire, dunking their way to a 113-97 victory over the Utah Jazz. They racked up a whopping 18 slam dunks. That’s tied for the second-most in an NBA game since the ’97-’98 season, says Elias Sports.
Not to be outdone, the Washington Wizards also made 18 dunks in a game against the Minnesota Timberwolves back on December 1, 2021. And who could forget? The Los Angeles Clippers hold the record with 20 dunks in a game against San Antonio on December 21, 2019.
Speaking of records, Shaquille O’Neal, the dunking legend himself, made 11 dunks in a single game. Not once, but three times, all while playing for the Los Angeles Lakers. No one else has even hit more than 10 dunks in a game. Can you believe it?
The Mavs’ PR team tweeted about the feat, boasting the 18 dunks in their win against Utah. They tied that impressive record for dunks in a game since the late ’90s. It’s a big deal, honestly.
Now, onto some career stats. Howard has dunked a total of 3,252 times. That’s insane, right? O’Neal is right behind him with 3,200 dunks. They’re the only NBA players with over 3,000 career dunks. Legends, both of them.
Luka Doncic, oh boy, he had himself a night. Thirty-four points, nine rebounds, eight assists, and four steals. Thanks to him, the Mavericks climbed to the sixth spot in the Western Conference standings.
They’ve been on a roll, winning their third straight and seven out of their last eight games. Both the Mavericks and Phoenix are sitting at 41-29, but Dallas holds the tiebreaker. The Sacramento Kings are just a half-game behind. It’s getting tight.
The Mavericks are not slowing down. They’ve won seven of their last eight games and are about to start a five-game road trip this Monday. Talk about momentum.
Daniel Gafford, meanwhile, scored 24 points, marking his highest-scoring game since being acquired in February. And get this, he made a franchise-record 10 dunks in the game. That’s the most by any NBA player since Rudy Gobert’s 10 dunks in March 2022.
Mavericks coach Jason Kidd praised Gafford, saying, “He has great hands.” And his ability to finish in traffic? Apparently, it’s something the Mavericks haven’t had in a while.
By halftime, Dallas was leading 53-42. Kyrie Irving scored 16 points, with 11 in the second half. Maxi Kleber added seven points off the bench. Overall, the Mavs shot 50% from the floor and 31.3% from deep.
Kidd summed it up perfectly, “Guys are being very unselfish, and it’s really fun to watch and be a part of.” That team spirit is something special.
On the other side, Utah’s Lauri Markkanen led with 21 points after missing seven games due to a quadriceps injury. Collin Sexton added 20 off the bench, marking his sixth straight game with 20 or more points.
Utah struggled, shooting 45.8% from the field and a dismal 13.3% from 3-point range. Markkanen himself was 1-of-9 from beyond the arc. They trailed by as much as 19 points at one point.
Jazz coach Will Hardy admitted, “It was a really tough night shooting the ball.” He gave credit to Dallas, calling them “a really good team.”
The Jazz were missing Jordan Clarkson, their No. 3 scorer, due to a groin injury. The Mavs were without Josh Green, sidelined by a sprained right ankle.
Next up, the Mavericks are facing Utah again on Monday night. They’re kicking off a five-game road trip. It’s going to be interesting, to say the least.
