Are the Dallas Mavericks – before the eyes of their devoted fans – transforming into a team that can also commit to a roughrider
gameplay style ? If Thursday night’s game against the Utah Jazz is any indication, that’s certainly the case.
Not only did the Mavs spend the majority of the night upsetting the Jazz. But they did it by finishing the night with an unprecedented 18 dunks.
In other words, the Mavs converted 43 field goals against Utah. And 18 of them were dunks. That represents 41.9 percent of their field goals. It’s also a roughrider thing.
The 18 dunks are tied for the second-most dunks ever recorded in a game in NBA history since play-by-play data began tracking that statistic in time for the 1996-97 season. He trails only the 20 dunks the Los Angeles Clippers slammed into the basket in a 134-109 victory over the San Antonio Spurs. 
on December 21, 2019, while the Washington Wizards had 18 dunks in a 115-107 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on December 1, 2021.
The common denominator between the game between the Mavs and Jazz – and the game between the Wizards and Timberwolves – is Daniel Gafford. Gafford was now part of the Wizards during their 18-slam dunk fest, but he also played a huge role in the Mavs’ dunk-a-thon against the Jazz.
Overall, Gafford was 10 of 11 from the field Thursday. And all 10 of his baskets were dunks.
Gafford was also an equal opportunity dunkster. He had one dunk in the first quarter, two in the second, three in the third and four in the fourth. Basically, ESPN could have built his entire Top 10 plays of the day entirely composed of Gafford dunks.
“Yeah, it was like one of those Wilt (Chamberlain) nights — 10 for 11,” Mavs coach Jason Kidd said, referring to Gafford. “The quarterbacks love having him back.
“He has great hands. His ability to finish in traffic is something we haven’t had.
Including the five layups the Mavs converted, 53.5 percent of their field goals — 23 of 43 — were either a dunk or layup. It’s pure efficiency that will win many matches.
In total, the Mavs traded 11 lob dunks perfectly, including two from Luka Dončić to Gafford and two from Dončić to Derek Lively II. Additionally, Jaden Hardy threw four lofted dunks at Gafford, and PJ Washington finished the night with three lofted dunks, including two from Kyrie Irving.
In the Jazz body slamming, it was a dominant roughrider type play from the Mavs.
Here are the three takeaways from the Mavs’ 16-point win over the Jazz.
GAFFORD GETS PERSONAL: Not only did Mavs center Daniel Gafford masterfully record 10 dunks. He also had 24 points, six rebounds and five assists. The 24 points are two shy of Gafford’s career high of 26. Additionally, this is the first time Gafford has recorded a game that concerned him. 
score at least 20 points, grab at least five rebounds and distribute at least five assists. The only other Mavs centers to produce such a stat line are Roy Tarpley (November 3, 1990) and Tom LaGarde (December 30, 1980 and February 11, 1981).
EASY CELECTIONS: Including the five layups the Mavs made Thursday, 53.5 percent of their baskets — 23 of 43 — were either a dunk or layup. This includes the aforementioned 18 dunks, which in itself should be an intimidating weapon that teams use to inflict extra pain on opponents. It’s also the efficiency that will win many games and make teams think twice before trying to contain a player when he is so close to attacking the basket.
LUCA BOUNCED: It only took Mavs point guard Luka Dončić one game to recover from the poor shooting he had in Tuesday’s win over the San Antonio Spurs. Dončić was just 6 of 27 from the field — including 2 of 12 from three-point range — against the Spurs. But against the Jazz, he finished 11 of 23 from the field — including 4 of 10 from beyond the three-point arc.
X: @DwainPrice
