NBA Top Five Performances, Feb. 6: Josh Green and Jaden Hardy’s Career Nights Led the Mavericks Past the Utah Jazz

Hardy and Green showed up big for Dallas’ short-handed backcourt.

TOP PLAYER OF THE DAY:

The Dallas Mavericks’ guards were the key to success in the 124-111 win over the Jazz. And neither one of them was Kyrie Irving or Luka Doncic.

Irving and Doncic were out Monday night, which led Josh Green and Jaden Hardy to both produce career-high scoring performances. Green had 29 points, six rebounds and two assists in just his third start all season. Hardy had a 29-point performance off the bench, along with four rebounds and two steals on his career night. The Mavericks got their first win this season without Doncic. Mavericks coach Jason Kidd sang the praises of Hardy and Green.

Kidd on Hardy: “He’s working, and we’re gonna have to give him some minutes with the way he’s playing. The maturity he has on the floor, understanding how to get to the basket, and he gives us something we don’t have, which is speed. He’s fearless getting to the rim and he’s showing that he can play make too.”

Kidd on Green: “Being a starter comes with responsibility, and he answered the call. We believe he can be a starter in this league at some point. He's not afraid of the moment and he showed that this evening.”

OTHERS:

- Cam Thomas had another monster game since Irving has been out of the lineup for the Brooklyn Nets. Thomas had a career-high 47 points against the Los Angeles Clippers, including seven 3-pointers.

Jayson Tatum had 34 points and 11 rebounds to help the Celtics blow past the Detroit Pistons.

- Keegan Murray’s career-high 30-point performance led the Kings past the Houston Rockets. Murray’s eight 3-pointers set a rookie franchise record.

- Klay Thompson shined in the absence of Steph Curry with 42 points on 12 of 16 shooting from the arc.

Jayden Armant is a contributor to Inside the Heat. He is a student at Howard University. He can be reached at jayden.armant@bison.howard.edu or follow him on Twitter @jaydenarmant.

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