Jazz bring NBA's 29th-ranked offense, six-game skid to Dallas

The Utah Jazz (1-7), losers of six straight, visit the Dallas Mavericks (4-4) at 8 p.m. ET on Friday in a game shaped by Utah's weak shooting and Dallas' weak defensive rebounding.

Utah scores 103 points per 100 possessions, 29th in the league, and shooting explains most of it: the Jazz's effective field goal percentage of 49.4 ranks 28th. Dallas, which has lost two in a row, allows 110.8 per 100, 15th, and holds opponents to a 51.3 effective percentage, ninth.

Utah turns the ball over on 14.4% of its possessions, 25th. Cooper Flagg averages 2.1 steals, so loose passes run straight to the Mavericks' best player.

The glass is where the Jazz can push back. Dallas grabs just 68% of opponents' misses, 28th in the league, while Utah ranks fourth on its own defensive boards. Airious Bailey pulls down 7.3 rebounds a game.

Flagg leads Dallas with 24.3 points and 6.3 assists a game, and P.J. Washington adds eight rebounds. For Utah, Keyonte George scores 22 points a game but commits 3.8 turnovers.

Both teams are short up front. Utah is without Jaren Jackson Jr. and Jusuf Nurkic, both out; Nurkic is expected back Friday, November 13, and Jackson on Monday, December 14. Trey Alexander and Harrison Ingram are also out.

Dallas has Dereck Lively II out, and Marc Stein reported Santi Aldama as doubtful. Tarik Biberovic and Sergio De Larrea are out, and Max Christie is probable. With Lively gone, Daniel Gafford and his 1.9 blocks anchor the paint against Jaxson Hayes, who blocks two a game for Utah.

The Jazz's skid includes a 112-90 home loss to Portland and a 119-97 loss at San Antonio. Dallas beat Oklahoma City 120-96 and Houston 116-111 at home, then lost 112-111 at San Antonio and 115-100 at home to Sacramento.

Sportsbooks' prices give the Mavericks a 71% chance to win. The Keel Stats projection puts them at 68%, by 6 points.