Jazz – Mavericks 116-114: End of negative streak with leader Markkanen and “surprise” Cody Williams
Jazz – Mavericks 116-114: Reaction, Markkanen and victory in the final
The Utah Jazz ended their five-game losing streak by beating the Dallas Mavericks 116-114 at home, celebrating their first win of the 2026 calendar year.
In a game that was decided in the details, Will Hardy’s side showed character at crucial points and managed to lock down the pink card, relying as much on the quality of their star players as their overall defensive effort.
Markkanen in All-Star role and decisive George
Lauri Markkanen had another All-Star performance, finishing with a game-high 33 points to lead the Jazz offensively. Kiyode George was also decisive in the final, who scored 19 points, scoring big baskets in the last minutes.
At the same time, Utah’s defense worked exemplary, forcing the Mavericks into 20 turnovers, an element that played a key role in the final outcome of the matchup.
Cody Williams jumped at the chance
Among the players who stood out, Cody Williams deserves a special mention. The second-year forward made his first start this year and made the most of the opportunity, providing energy on both ends of the floor.
Williams had 8 points on 4/5 shooting, 3 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals in 22 minutes of action, confirming his continued improvement.
Will Hardy’s take on Williams
The Jazz coach did not hide his satisfaction after the game, emphasizing the contribution of the young player:
“A lot of players helped tonight. Markkanen had a big game, George made a big shot, but Cody continues to improve. His defense is at a very high level and he constantly pushes the basket, finding ways to affect the game.”
Improve defense and win with character
Williams’ progress is mostly reflected on defense, where he looks more mature and physically stronger, while offensively he finds lanes to the basket more often. Although his percentage from 6.75 m. remains low, his overall picture is markedly improved from his rookie season.
In the match against Dallas, the Jazz dominated the “battle of possession”, committed only 9 errors and drastically limited the Mavericks’ action inside the racket, conceding only 4 points on the paint in the fourth period.
Next target the Hornets
After completing a challenging back-to-back, the Jazz will have a day off before welcoming the Charlotte Hornets to the Delta Center for their second matchup of the year. The goal is the second consecutive positive result, in a game that will also mark the return of Colin Sexton to Salt Lake City after the summer trade.
