Gafford Steals, Dunks in Mavs' Win Over Jazz
Dallas Mavericks center Daniel Gafford swatted a perimeter shot and finished a fast break dunk against the Utah Jazz at American Airlines Center.
Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Basketball
Daniel Gafford stole a perimeter shot and dunked for the Dallas Mavericks against the Utah Jazz on Nov. 6 at American Airlines Center in Dallas. The Mavericks closed to within two points as the first half wound down.
Why it matters
The play produced a steal and a fast-break finish that shifted momentum as the first half ended. Highlight plays like this one give fans a clear view of how the Mavericks create transition chances.
Play-by-play records show the Mavericks trailed by 2 points at the end of the first half against the Jazz. The source does not report the final score or how the second half unfolded.
The players
Daniel Gafford
Daniel Gafford is a center for the Dallas Mavericks known for rim protection and finishing lobs and fast-break dunks.
The details
With the Mavericks trailing, Gafford swatted a perimeter shot and got the ball off the bounce, then headed the other way for a slam dunk after a fast break. The sequence came as Dallas worked to cut into its deficit before halftime.
Timeline
November 6, 2026: Mavericks hosted the Jazz at American Airlines Center in Dallas.
Season Trajectory
Mid-season single plays like this one feed into the Mavericks' broader record and their standing in the Western Conference. Transition scoring tracked in NBA play-by-play data is one measure teams use to judge their offensive efficiency across a season.
The steal and fast-break dunk is a single play in a game, not a season-defining result. Fantasy managers tracking Gafford's blocks and dunks can note the play as one more example of his rim-area production.
The takeaway
Single-game highlight plays like Gafford's steal and dunk are useful for tracking how a team creates offense in transition. Following a team's play-by-play data over several games gives a clearer picture than any one highlight.
Further reading
Find more Mavericks coverage in the Basketball section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by ClutchPoints.
