SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Al Jefferson scored 28 points and tied a career-high with 26 rebounds as the Utah Jazz defeated Dallas 123-121 Monday night in triple-overtime to halt a seven-game losing streak against the Mavericks and preserve their slim playoff hopes.
Utah began the day 10th in the Western Conference but pulled one-half game behind Phoenix and Houston for the eighth and final spot with four games remaining.
The loss dropped Dallas to seventh in the West, one-half game behind Denver.
Dirk Nowitzki scored 40 points against Utah for the second straight time. His 3-pointer forced the second overtime, but he couldn’t convert late in the third extra period.
The Jazz forced overtime on Paul Millsap’s put-back dunk with 2.2 seconds remaining in regulation.
