Rudy Gobert had 20 points, 17 rebounds and three blocks to help the Utah Jazz beat the Dallas Mavericks 109-92 on Monday night in the final game of the season in Salt Lake City.
Both teams were extremely short-handed with the coaches deciding to sit several stars. Gordon Hayward (Achilles tendon), Trey Burke (back) and Derrick Favors (coach's decision) did not play for the Jazz. Dirk Nowitzki, Tyson Chandler and Monta Ellis were all rested for the Mavs.
Gobert dominated the paint and had his 25th double-double of the season. Bryce Cotton scored a career-high 21 off the bench.
J.J. Barea led the Mavs with 18 off the bench while Charlie Villanueva finished with 15 points and Amar'e Stoudemire chipped in 15.
Two teams playing with makeshift lineups didn't equate to much defense played in the first half as they went into halftime tied at 57 apiece. The Jazz hadn't scored 57 first-half points in 14 games and it was just the fifth time all season they've scored more than 56 in the opening 24 minutes. Utah led by nine at one point in the second quarter, but the Mavs closed on a 13-6 run.
The Jazz, the league's top defensive team since the All-Star break, held the Mavs to 12 points in the third quarter and used a 14-3 run to take a 20-point lead.
TIP-INS
Mavericks: The team started Richard Jefferson, Charlie Villanueva, Amar'e Stoudemire, Rajon Rando and Raymond Felton. ... Dwight Powell played 24 minutes, the most for him since 29 on Jan. 14.
Jazz: The Jazz will host three teams for the 2015 Utah Jazz Summer League from July 6-9. The Boston Celtics, Philadelphia 76ers, San Antonio Spurs and Jazz will compete in three games apiece. ... Longtime NBA trainer Gary Briggs will retire following the season. He spent 33 years in the league, including 18 with the Cavaliers and the last 15 with the Jazz.
LINEUP SHUFFLE
The Jazz have used a variety of lineup combinations down the stretch due to injury and wanting to get certain players extra playing time. Hayward, Burke and Favors were all held out both Saturday and Monday. Coach Quin Snyder didn't confirm whether Favors' back was still bothering him, but said they wanted to be smart with him and believes those minutes would better spent on others.
"We're in a precarious position not being in the playoff race, but also wanting to maximize every game," Snyder said. "That meant one thing in Memphis, it means a different thing tonight."
CARLISLE CONCERNED
Mavericks forward Chandler Parson missed his fifth consecutive game with a knee injury on Monday. Parsons signed with as a free agent during the offseason and has started every game he's played with the team. Coach Rick Carlisle called him day-to-day.
"Am I concerned? Yeah, I'm concerned," Carlisle said. "The next couple days we will get back home and he will continue to rehab. ... We will see where we are. We are not going to take any risks with it."
