Here we go!
Monday night has the potential to ultimately shape the remainder of Utah’s season — and because of that, it’s far and away the biggest game of the year.
A potential playoff preview? Check
A battle for an elusive all-NBA spot? Check
Massive postseason implications? Check
Almost everything is on the line when Utah ends its five-game road trip in Dallas against Luka Doncic and the Mavericks. Tipoff is set for 6:30 p.m. MST.
“I feel like everybody knows this is somebody we will probably see in the playoffs, so just preparing for that. … But also, we kind of know what can happen if we do win this game,” Trent Forrest said.
| “We took our shots.”https://t.co/s01PZnaCuE
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) March 7, 2022
Currently sitting in the No. 4 spot of the Western Conference, Forrest is correct when he says the Jazz know what can happen if they win this game.
Already with two victories over the Mavericks this season, a win on Monday night would be a massive step in locking up homecourt advantage for the opening round of the playoffs — ironically enough, probably against fifth-seeded Dallas.
Utah is currently two games ahead of the Mavericks in the loss column, and a victory would put them three up with 18 games to go and clinch the season series. This would mean the tiebreaker goes to the Jazz, putting them essentially four games up over Dallas.
goodnight, jazz fans
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) February 26, 2022
In a much broader sense, Monday’s showdown is enormous for the entire playoff picture in the Western Conference.
Phoenix currently has the No. 1 seed on lock with an eight-game lead over the No. 2 Warriors and No. 3 Grizzlies. But just five games separate Golden State and No. 6 Denver, a team lurking in the shadows capable of making a late push with MVP frontrunner Nikola Jokic leading the way.
Utah sits just 2.5 games behind slumping Golden State (two in the loss column), so a victory would further strengthen their chances of…