The Dallas Mavericks host the Utah Jazz on Saturday, Jan. 17, with the matchup shaped as much by the injury report as the standings. Below you’ll find the start time, the latest odds, and a clear, reader-first prediction for how this one is likely to play out—especially after Dallas’ 144–122 win in the teams’ last meeting. For more NBA coverage, visit our basketball section.
Game: Utah Jazz vs Dallas Mavericks
Date: Saturday, January 17, 2026
Start time: 5:00 p.m. ET
Venue: American Airlines Center (Dallas)
Official game listing: NBA.com game page
Latest odds (snapshot):
- Spread: Mavericks -3.5
- Total: 241.5
- Moneyline: Mavericks -161, Jazz +135
Odds references commonly vary by book and time; see a live board at BetMGM.
Injury report: who’s in doubt, who’s out
This is one of those slate games where the lineup news matters as much as the matchup. Dallas and Utah are both thin, and several key names could swing late.
Mavericks (notable absences/concerns):
- Kyrie Irving — out (knee)
- Anthony Davis — out (finger)
- Cooper Flagg — doubtful (ankle)
- Dereck Lively II — out (foot)
- P.J. Washington — out (personal)
Jazz (notable absences/concerns):
- Lauri Markkanen — day-to-day / questionable (illness)
- Walker Kessler — out (shoulder)
- Georges Niang — day-to-day / questionable (foot)
For context and updates, see coverage at CBS Sports and local reporting at Mavs Moneyball.
What happened last time—and why it might not repeat
The headline number from the previous meeting is the score: Dallas 144, Utah 122. That kind of track meet can stick in the mind and drag expectations toward another shootout—especially with a big total on the board. But rematches tend to tighten, and the injury lists on both sides change the geometry of the game.
Dallas, in particular, is operating without two primary creators in Irving and Davis, and could be without Flagg as well. Utah’s situation is similar in the frontcourt: when Markkanen and Kessler aren’t fully available, the Jazz can look like a different team possession-to-possession.
Matchup keys: where this game gets decided
1) Shot creation late in the clock. When a team is missing primary scorers, the hardest points to find are the last eight seconds of a possession. If Dallas can manufacture clean looks through movement and pace, it will keep the Jazz from loading up on the same actions.
2) Rim pressure vs. rim protection. Utah’s ability to hold up defensively often looks different depending on who’s available in the middle. If the Jazz are light at center, Dallas will want to attack downhill and force rotations—then punish closeouts.
3) The “quiet” category: turnovers. In games shaped by injuries, extra possessions become a shortcut to offense. The team that takes better care of the ball usually wins the math, even if the shooting is uneven.
Prediction: Mavericks edge it—lean to a lower-scoring feel than Thursday
My read: Dallas has the clearer path to controlling the game at home, even with the roster gaps. The Mavericks’ best-case script is a steady, half-court-leaning win where they avoid live-ball turnovers and keep Utah from getting easy points before the defense is set.
Projected result: Mavericks by a handful of points, with the game feeling more “contained” than the 266-point eruption in the last meeting. Models referenced by national outlets have also suggested the rematch could play slower and land below the most recent total, given the limited scoring options on both sides.
How to watch Jazz vs Mavericks
Broadcast availability varies by market. The most reliable “one-stop” reference is the official listing on NBA.com, which also includes venue details and game coverage links.
Note: Odds and injury statuses can change quickly on game day. If you’re publishing close to tip, refresh the injury note section and the odds snapshot so the post stays accurate for prematch search.
