Mavs vs Jazz Preview: Can 'Head Of The Snake' Cooper Flagg Bite Utah?

The Utah Jazz are in bad shape at 1-7, ranking then 15th in the Western Conference).

They come to Dallas against a Mavericks team that at 4-4 is in decent shape - relatively speaking - ranking 11th in the Western Conference.

There aren't many teams that Dallas can "bite''; Can the Jazz represent that in Friday's 7 p.m. CT tip at American Airlines Center with the help of "the head of the snake''?

This is an NBA Cup in-season tournament group play matchup as Dallas tries to bounce back from a heartbreaking one-point loss to the powerful San Antonio Spurs ... and tries to bounce back from an awful 2025-26 NBA season.

Dallas finished 26-56 overall, 14-37 in Western Conference play and 16-25 at home during the 2025-26 season.

Utah, though, was even worse, as it finished 22-60 overall and 12-40 in Western Conference games last year.

The Mavs hope to be high-flying again led by young star Cooper Flagg and veteran sidekick Kyrie Irving. ... the team's "heads of the snake,'' as teammate Daniel Gafford put it.

Flagg went 7-of-19 from the field and 0-of-3 from 3-point range in the Mavericks’ 112-111 loss to the Spurs on Wednesday night.

He still finished with 19 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists - but it wasn't up to his high standards.

“I try to talk to him,” Gafford said via 105.3 The Fan. “It’s a team sport like I said before, and it’s not all on everyone’s shoulders. Granted, he’s one of the heads of the snake when it comes to our team, so we got to make sure he’s in good spirits.'

In fairness, Flagg - the first overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft and is the reigning Rookie of the Year - is through seven games this season averaging 24.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 6.3 assists while shooting 46.8% from the field and 21.2% from 3-point range. 

Meanwhile, Santi Aldama is listed as probable for Friday’s game against the Utah Jazz, putting the forward in line to make his Mavericks debut after missing the first eight games of the season. And Max Christie is also probable with right hip soreness and tightness after sitting out Wednesday’s loss to the Spurs.

More guys can help, for sure.

But yes, Dallas needs more from "the head of the snake.'' 

WHO: The Utah Jazz (1-7) at the Dallas Mavericks (4-4)

WHEN: Friday at 7 p.m. CT

WHERE: At the American Airlines Center, Dallas, Texas

MEDIA: The game will be shown on MAVSTV+ and KFAA Channel 29. The radio broadcast is on 105.3 The Fan and 99.1 FM KFZO (Español).

ODDS: The Mavericks are favored by 6.5 points, with the

• Over/Under total at 227 points.