Mavericks beat Utah Jazz to take 3-2 series lead

The young Dallas genius, Luka Doncic had 33 points and 13 rebounds while likewise being tossed to the court on a hard foul that prompted Hassan Whiteside's discharge as the Mavericks directed the Jazz with a 102-77 triumph on Monday night for a 3-2 lead in their first-round series.

Doncic made his series debut in Game 4 at Utah, when the Jazz scored the last five points in the last 31 seconds for a one-point win that leveled the series. He never allowed Game 5 to draw near. Utah never got an opportunity following an almost six-minute scoreless dry spell in the second quarter that powered a 22-4 Dallas run while heading to a 52-36 halftime lead. Game 6 is Thursday night in Salt Lake City, with the Jazz recapturing their impressive home-court edge, yet confronting the slim chances of only 18% of groups winning a series in the wake of dropping the fifth game when the groups split the initial four.