SALT LAKE CITY – Jazz center Hassan Whiteside received a pair of technical fouls and was ejected during the fourth quarter of Utah’s game against the Dallas Mavericks.

The Mavericks hosted the Jazz at American Airlines Center on Monday, April 25.

With 5:33 remaining in the game, Mavericks star Luka Dončić attempted to fly down the lane and go up for a dunk. Whiteside leaped into the air and thwarted Dončić’s dunk attempt but committed a personal foul on the move.

Dončić fell to the ground, pulling Whiteside’s arm as he dropped to the court. After the play, Whiteside attempted to help Dončić up off the floor but was pushed in the back by a Dallas defender.

Hassan Whiteside has been ejected for getting two technical fouls after a foul on Luka Doncic.

— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) April 26, 2022

After a small skirmish that featured multiple pushes by Whiteside, the Jazz center and Dallas’ Reggie Bullock were ejected from the contest.

Dallas’ Dorian Finney-Smith was also assessed one technical foul.

Things getting chippy after after Hassan Whiteside had a hard foul on Luka 👀

Reggie Bullock and Whiteside were both ejected pic.twitter.com/HqzgZ0pg45

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 26, 2022

Whiteside finished his night with two points, six rebounds, one steal, and a block in 13 minutes.

Jazz vs. Mavericks

Both the Jazz and the Mavericks will look to seize control of their opening-round series when the two teams face off in a critical Game 5.

After winning Game 1 on the road, the Jazz surrendered the series lead by losing Games 2 and 3 to Dallas, appearing to have no answers for the scrappier Mavericks attack.

However, the Jazz overcame their faults in Game 4, evening the series at two games apiece with a 100-99 win in Utah.

You think you know how to slow down Luka Doncic?

Well @utahjazz head coach Quin Snyder laid out exactly why Doncic is one of the most difficult players to adjust for in a brilliant soliloquy ahead of Game 5.#takenote | #MFFLhttps://t.co/PFqM9toOUD

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) April 26, 2022

Jazz Look To Build On Momentum

After disappointing performances in Games 2 and 3, the Jazz seemed to solve their numerous flaws in Saturday’s franchise energizing victory.

Quin Snyder made tangible adjustments to the Jazz’s stagnant defense, Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert showed a superstar connection on the floor, and the team overall put forward the effort required to win a playoff series.

The Jazz must now show they have an ability to continue that effort, having far too often this season taken one step forward, only to take two steps back.

Winning in Dallas is a tall task, but the Jazz have the wind at their backs, as the pressure has fallen on the Mavericks to avoid falling behind in the series once again.

Mavericks Look To Regain Control

While the pressure may rest more heavily on the Mavericks after their Game 4 loss, they have the advantage of playing two of the final three games of the series at home, with a healthier Luka Doncic back on the roster.

Doncic missed the first three games of the series but returned with a 30 point, ten rebound, four assist outing in Game 4.

However, the Mavericks roster lacked the same cohesion as the team’s role players struggled to shoot the ball on offense, and failed to keep the Jazz off the three-point line on defense.

Whichever team wins Game 5 will return to Utah with a chance to close out the series in Game 6.

GAME 5️⃣

📻 LISTEN LIVE: @utahjazz vs. @dallasmavs on @ZoneSportsNet, @kslnewsradio, and the @kslsports app 🎷🏀#TakeNote #UTAvsDAL #NBA #NBAPlayoffs https://t.co/LqmyLf0ake

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) April 26, 2022

Utah’s game against Dallas is broadcast on TNT, AT&T SportsNet, The Zone Sports Network, and KSL NewsRadio.

Follow @kyleireland