Luka Doncic, Mavs slip past Utah to close first-round series

Luka Doncic and Jalen Brunson combined for 48 points to lead the Dallas Mavericks to close-fought victory (98-96). Dallas has advanced the Western Conference semifinals with the fourth win in six games.

Doncic had 24 points along with eight assists and nine rebounds, whille Brunson also finished with 24 and several crucial plays in the closing minutes of Game 6.

After Brunson hit a 3-pointer from the corner, Mike Conley was called for traveling with five seconds remaining, and Brunson made one of two free throws with 4.3 seconds to play.

The Jazz had a chance at the end, but Bojan Bogdanovic’s open look fell short and the Mavericks moved on to face top-seeded Phoenix in the second round.

Donovan Mitchell led the way with 23 points along with nine assists and eight rebounds for the home side. Bogdanovic followed with 19.

The Mavericks shot the ball well in the third quarter, when they made a 36-19 run as Doncic had 10 points during that stint and the Mavs made 8 of 12 from 3-point range.

The Mavericks won in the first round for the first time since winning the 2011 NBA championship. That was also Luka Doncic’s first playoff series win.

Western Conference semifinal series vs Phoenix starts next Wednesday at Footprint Center.

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