SALT LAKE CITY (Reuters) - The Dallas Mavericks claimed their third consecutive win after their defense produced a strong second half effort to subdue the Utah Jazz 94-77 on Saturday.
Trailing 47-43 at halftime, the Mavericks held the Jazz to just 30 points in the second half and pulled away in a one-sided fourth quarter, aided by a 13-0 run.
"I thought it was a great game," Dallas coach Rick Carlisle said. "You play a team that's desperate and they've been losing close games. They fought and they were physical and they were clawing. We just kept playing. This is what we need."
Back-to-back three pointers by Jose Barea and Jason Terry midway through the fourth quarter sparked the key run as the Mavericks (51-21) erased a two-point deficit to run out comfortable winners.
"We just made too many mistakes. I think we got away from what we was doing," Jazz center Al Jefferson conceded. "Kind of let other things get us out of our game, instead of staying focused and doing what we was doing the first three quarters."
Terry led the Mavericks with 22 points from the bench, including 16 in the second half, with Dirk Nowitzki adding 19 points. Jefferson led the Jazz with 21 points.
The loss is the fifth straight for the Jazz (36-38) as their playoff chances continue to fade.
Utah is 11th in the Western conference and trail the eighth place Memphis Grizzlies by four-and-a-half games with just eight remaining.
Trailing 47-43 at halftime, the Mavericks held the Jazz to just 30 points in the second half and pulled away in a one-sided fourth quarter, aided by a 13-0 run.
"I thought it was a great game," Dallas coach Rick Carlisle said. "You play a team that's desperate and they've been losing close games. They fought and they were physical and they were clawing. We just kept playing. This is what we need."
Back-to-back three pointers by Jose Barea and Jason Terry midway through the fourth quarter sparked the key run as the Mavericks (51-21) erased a two-point deficit to run out comfortable winners.
"We just made too many mistakes. I think we got away from what we was doing," Jazz center Al Jefferson conceded. "Kind of let other things get us out of our game, instead of staying focused and doing what we was doing the first three quarters."
Terry led the Mavericks with 22 points from the bench, including 16 in the second half, with Dirk Nowitzki adding 19 points. Jefferson led the Jazz with 21 points.
The loss is the fifth straight for the Jazz (36-38) as their playoff chances continue to fade.
Utah is 11th in the Western conference and trail the eighth place Memphis Grizzlies by four-and-a-half games with just eight remaining.
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