Dallas Mavericks' Jalen Brunson stays hot, scores 31 in Game 3 win over Utah Jazz

SALT LAKE CITY — Dallas Mavericks guard Jalen Brunson barked a few choice words at a referee, earning only the second technical foul of his NBA career, as he rubbed his lower back and gingerly walked toward the locker room.

Utah Jazz forward Royce O'Neale had just delivered a running elbow to Brunson's back as players positioned themselves for a rebound, forcing Brunson to exit Thursday's Game 3 for the final 4 minutes, 38 seconds of the first half.

That's about the only way the Jazz have managed to slow down Brunson over the past couple of games.

The Mavs seized a 2-1 series lead with a 126-118 win in large part because Brunson delivered his second consecutive spectacular performance while Mavs superstar point guard Luka Doncic recovers from his left calf strain. Doncic has been ramping up his basketball activity and hopes to make his series debut in Saturday's Game 4.

Brunson had 31 points on 12-of-22 shooting. That came on the heels of a career-high 41 points on 15-of-25 shooting in Monday's Game 2 win. It's the first time Brunson, a four-year veteran, has scored 30 or more points in consecutive games in his NBA career.

«It's just me being myself, just trying to help my team win,» said Brunson, who also had five assists Thursday. «That's all I'm thinking about now. I'm not really thinking about it as a coming-out party.»

Brunson, the Mavs' second-leading scorer with 16.3 points per game, has starred in the series as Dallas' primary ballhandler with Doncic sidelined. He has consistently exploited the Jazz's shoddy on-ball defense, often serving as a catalyst for ball movement that has been a critical element in the Mavs making 40 3s in their two victories, including 18-of-42 shooting from long range in Game 3.

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