Reviewing the Critical Injury Report That Sidelined Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving During the Mavericks vs Jazz Game
The Utah Jazz (10-15) secured their second consecutive victory with a gritty 140-133 overtime win over the Dallas Mavericks (10-17) on Monday night, December 15, 2025, at the Delta Center. In a game defined by elite individual performances and significant roster absences, the Jazz utilized a balanced scoring attack in the extra period to overcome a record-setting performance by Mavericks rookie sensation Cooper Flagg.
The immediate score and summary of the Mavericks vs Jazz matchup highlighted a back-and-forth battle that saw the Jazz erase a late fourth-quarter deficit. After both teams finished regulation tied at 126-126, Utah guard Keyonte George took control, scoring the first five points of overtime to give the Jazz a lead they would not relinquish. Despite Cooper Flagg keeping Dallas within striking distance, the Jazz’s depth and home-court advantage ultimately proved too much for a short-handed Mavericks squad missing several key veterans.
Key stats from the contest were led by Cooper Flagg, who made NBA history by scoring a career-high 42 points, the most ever by an 18-year-old in a single game (surpassing a record previously held by LeBron James). For the Jazz, Keyonte George delivered 37 points, while Lauri Markkanen added 33 points and 8 rebounds. Rookie Kyle Filipowski also provided a massive spark, scoring 16 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter and overtime combined. The game was also notable for being the first time in league history that opposing centers missed the contest due to rest and injury (Nurkic and Davis), forcing both teams to lean heavily on their younger rotations.
The strategic factor in the Jazz vs Mavericks win centered on the significant injury report that decimated the Dallas frontcourt and backcourt. The Mavericks played without superstar Kyrie Irving (knee) and big man Anthony Davis, who was a late scratch with a left calf bruise. With Dereck Lively II also out for the season, Dallas was forced to rely on heavy minutes from Flagg and P.J. Washington (20 points, 10 rebounds). On the Utah side, the decision to rest starting center Jusuf Nurkic allowed Filipowski to flourish in a starting role, exploiting the Mavericks' lack of interior depth.
Looking ahead, the future outlook for the Mavericks is clouded by these mounting injuries as they return home to face the Detroit Pistons on Thursday. The team must find ways to support Flagg's historic production while waiting for Davis and Irving to return. For the Utah Jazz, the win moves them closer to the play-in picture in the Western Conference as they prepare to host the Los Angeles Lakers. The emergence of George and Filipowski as reliable late-game options provides Coach Will Hardy with much-needed confidence in his young core.