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Jazz start road trip with 119-112 victory against Mavericks

Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert (27) dunks as Dallas Mavericks' Dirk Nowitzki (41), of Germany; Harrison Barnes (40); and Dorian Finney-Smith, right, watch during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, March 22, 2018, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Dallas • It wasn’t easy, but the Jazz scored a road win over the Mavericks.

The feat was diminished by the competition: Kyle Collinsworth, Maxi Kleber and Aaron Harrison are not exactly a murderer’s row. While the Mavericks went through the ugly business of tanking, the Jazz went through the business of winning ugly, grinding out a 119-112 victory on Thursday night at American Airlines Arena.

The Jazz managed to hang on for their 10th win in 11 games, and after a 21-7 surge to start the second half, Dallas didn’t get too close. The effort was led by a double-double from Joe Ingles (18 points, 10 assists) who had seven assists in the first quarter alone.

Donovan Mitchell added 26 points, scoring the bulk in a 14-point first quarter, but adding a closeout layup while being fouled — a play he couldn’t make in Utah’s defeat against the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday night at home.

“I was pretty upset after the Atlanta one,” Mitchell said. “My focus was coming in and staying aggressive, and not letting the last game affect my mindset.”

But there were periodic reminders the Jazz (41-31) are vulnerable. In particular, the slice-and-dice attack of J.J. Barea (23 points) flummoxed Utah again, a slice of a larger issue for the Jazz, who allowed 17 of 32 shooting from beyond the arc — Harrison Barnes and Yogi Farrell also eclipsed the 20-point mark.

The Jazz hadn’t clinched the game until the fourth quarter — not with a stop or a bucket, but with Barea and Dirk Nowitzki checking out with 7:16 remaining, with the margin at 13 points. Barnes, who was hot for much the night, subbed out at 2:33, even as the gap shrunk.

It was a sign of surrender from a team that is built to lose this season, and a gift of a win from Dallas, who sent out unheralded, undrafted players in their supposed comeback effort. Even then, the Mavericks (22-50) came within 6 points with 1:17 left in the game and Jazz starters trying to close.

At this point, Utah will take a win any way it can get it to stay in the top eight of the West. But in Friday’s game in San Antonio against the Spurs, who are still clawing to ensure a playoff spot, the Jazz won’t have such a pushover opponent. After Thursday’s games, the Jazz are two games ahead of Denver for eighth, and one game behind San Antonio for sixth. Utah is tied with Minnesota in record, but the Timberwolves remain seventh based on tiebreakers.

“I’d like to see us play more consistently throughout a game,” Jazz coach Quin Snyder said. “We’ve had some lapses, we’ve made some mistakes. If there’s one thing right now that we need to be conscious of, that’s it.”

But it wasn’t all grim: Derrick Favors returned from a one-game absence and brought a powerful post presence, finishing with 19 points, seven rebounds, five assists and a block. As second-unit center, he helped spur two distinct Jazz runs with defense and dunks.

Ricky Rubio also scored 22 points, hitting four 3-pointers and added five steals, and Rudy Gobert had five blocks despite a quieter-than-average offensive night (11 points).

This is a team that has won 22 games in its past 25 and has won 12 straight on the road. But they know they need to be better to keep that run going.

Said Gobert: “We just gotta do a better job closing out.”