Mavericks vs. Jazz Recap: Dallas rally against Utah falls short, 107-102

The Mavericks missed their first preseason win on Thursday night when they lost to the Utah Jazz 107-102. Lauri Markkanen led Utah, scoring 26 points in 29 minutes. Dallas got 15 points from Daniel Gafford in just 18 minutes, but couldn't get enough out of its starting unit to keep a win within reach.

The first half was strange. The Mavericks' starting lineup, which included Kyrie Irving and Klay Thompson, was a combined -38. The Jazz made some difficult throws, but it was clear the Mavericks didn't want to risk their bodies to assert themselves on defense. Combine that with the fact that the shots weren't falling in the first quarter, and you end up with a 13-point deficit at halftime. Dallas won the second half, but their third unit couldn't muster enough of a comeback in the fourth quarter to turn over the scoreboard. An O-Max three-pointer with 24.1 seconds left brought Dallas within three seconds, but the Mavericks' strategy department was still in preparatory form as it didn't call them a foul until six seconds left. Brice Sensabaugh made two free throws and the game was over.

Klay Thompson, Dallas Maverick

The last time Klay Thompson wore a jersey that didn't say “Warriors” on the front, I was 11 years old. Thompson wore the white and blue of the Dallas Mavericks for the first time on Thursday night, and boy was it surreal. It almost looked like watching an NBA 2K16 game simulated ten years in the future with Kyrie Irving sitting on the floor next to Thompson. Whether it was a video game or not, he seemed to feel right at home on the Mavericks' gray field and wasted no time playing. The former Splash Brother scored 3 of 9 points in 18 minutes of play against Utah, with his three goals coming from behind the arc.

Thompson looked good offensively. The shooting numbers weren't ideal, but every shot he took was a shot the Mavericks wanted him to take. He had a few good assists in tight windows in the lane to Dereck Lively, and it didn't look like he forced anything. He also cut a good figure on defense. He moved his feet, fought shots and helped out on some rebounds. In his first game with a completely new team, he didn't appear the least bit rusty or indecisive.

It won't be easy to score down the field against Dallas

If there is a breakthrough from Dallas this season, it could be that they have the best one-two punch in the middle in the NBA. Dereck Lively is a monster on defense; There's no shot he can't block and no player he can't stay in front of. His instincts are unmatched and the scariest thing for other teams is that when he rests, Daniel Gafford comes in and the energy goes up. The four blocks they had in the first half weren't just tipped balls, they were assertive shots against a formidable and big Utah front line. Aside from their dominant big men, the Mavericks have plenty of guys willing to rotate inside. Naji Marshall in particular does well, but several players showed signs of strain. The Mavericks' biggest focus this season, however, has to be rebounding, because when Lively and Gafford went for second throws, there were too many easy putbacks from the Jazz. If left uncorrected, Dallas could end up leading the league in second-chance points given up this year.

The Mavericks have a level of talent they haven't had since 2011

One thing was clear when the Mavericks added more starters on Thursday night: The talent from top to bottom of the roster is uncharted territory. Between elite size, skill and athleticism, this Dallas team has things it hasn't had in years. In the past, when the Mavericks were on their bench, it looked like a hodgepodge of guys just trying to hold everything together. When Dallas called in the replacements on Thursday night, they brought in Naji Marshall, Quentin Grimes and Daniel Gafford, who have started a combined 310 games in their careers. Even Jaden Hardy and Olivier Maxence-Prosper showed signs of improvement and looked like NBA-level players. The Mavericks looked competent in every lineup despite the scoreboard, and they did that even without Luka Doncic and PJ Washington. This is going to be a very fun season.