SALT LAKE CITY – The Mavericks will close out the month of November on Saturday night against the Utah Jazz.

And what a month it has been for Kyrie Irving.

Actually, more than five weeks if you go back for opening night on October 24th.

Irving’s work so far this season has been exemplary – and much needed. No, his points, rebounds and assists are not at the level of Luka Dončić. But they’re still crazy.

The 6-2 veteran averaged 24.5 points and 5.4 assists. He made 46.6 percent of his three-point shots, which is by far the best mark on the team among players who shot more than 10 three-pointers.

And he played in 18 of the Mavericks’ 19 games.

“What Kai does as a leader on and off the field was very impressive,” said coach Jason Kidd. “Look at his numbers, he’s carrying a heavy load right now. But the beauty of what he does is that he picks his spots. He plays chess.”

And it’s about more than just Irving picking the spots where he can score.

“The guys he plays with, he encouraged them to play because he can’t do it alone,” Kidd said. “In Atlanta, he didn’t shoot the ball particularly well in the first half and we were only down by six. The team plays at a high level for him. He plays the game correctly at a very high level.”

And his teammates are grateful for the way Irving leads them and sets the table for them. They have been particularly successful recently when Dončić was sidelined with a sprained right wrist.

Four Mavericks players scored at least 20 points in each of the last two games – wins in Atlanta and at home against New York.

“In the first half, he tells us to be aggressive,” said PJ Washington, one of the players who benefited from Irving’s encouragement. “And obviously he stays himself in the second half.”

What the Mavericks need now and when Luka returns, which hopefully the Mavericks will do in Utah.

“He’s great,” Quentin Grimes said of Irving. “From the first time we watched him train, he was one of the most talented players of all time.

“And his leadership will be of great importance when things get difficult again. It’s a blessing to have that.”

It’s part of the overall package that Irving has put together so far this season.

Here’s what else to look for when the Mavericks visit the Jazz Saturday:

• The Mavericks hope to have Dončić back in the lineup after a four-game absence due to his sprained wrist. Kidd said the 6-7 Slovenian went through practice on Friday and “looked like Luka.” “He’s been practicing, so we’ll see how he feels,” Kidd added. “We’ve done this before. We don’t have to take a step back to wait for him. We have to keep increasing the pace. He will join us. He’ll find a way to make it work.” As for any adjustments, Kidd said common sense usually prevails in these situations. “It goes both ways,” he said. “Adapting to him is key, but he also has to adapt to the new parts. So if we understand how we play, we’ll see what PJ (Washington) does now and (Naji) Marshall, but he’ll be okay with it.” Officially, Lukas is listed as doubtful against the Jazz.
• Klay Thompson, on the other hand, did not practice on Friday and is out for Saturday’s game.
• Spencer Dinwiddie said Luka’s return, whenever that may be, won’t exactly faze the Mavericks. “Obviously Luka has a certain style,” Dinwiddie said. “And he’s an MVP player. Our job is to adapt to the MVP. That being said, if you commit to doing your job to the highest standard, everything will work out.”
• It’s the start of a quick, more difficult journey than it looks on paper that leads to Portland on Sunday night. In addition to a long travel distance (the Mavericks traveled from the West Coast to the East Coast and back to the West Coast again in 18 days). There will also be a total of nine away games in the last 12 games.
• The Mavericks lost 115-113 in Utah two weeks ago, and after that game, the players and coaches voiced their opinions in the locker room after the game, leading to the current streak of six wins in seven games. Kidd said Friday: “It’s a tough, back-to-back road trip. We have to find a way to win on the road in Utah. The last time we were there it came down to the last possession. If we find ourselves in the same situation, we have to find a way to win.”
• The Jazz have a number of players who did not play in Wednesday’s 122-103 loss to Denver, including Lauri Markkanen (personal), John Collins (knee), Jordan Clarkson (foot), Drew Eubanks (knee) and Kyle Filipowski (leg). ).
• The Jazz, who get a solid run from former Baylor guard Keyonte George (16.1 points, 5.7 assists), have lost six of seven games since their decisive win over the Mavericks on Nov. 14.

MAVERICKS (11-8) at UTAH JAZZ (4-14)

WHEN: 8:30 p.m., Saturday

WHERE: Delta Center, Salt Lake City

TV: KFAA, MAVS TV STREAM

RADIO: KEGL 97.1 FM, 99.1 FM Zona MX (Spanish)

X: @ESefko