Ex-Hawkeye Jarrod Uthoff nearly posts NBA double-double

Jarrod Uthoff put together the best game of his NBA career Sunday night, nearly recording a double-double for the Dallas Mavericks in a 124-111 loss to the Phoenix Suns.

The rookie from Iowa scored 12 points and grabbed nine rebounds in 26 minutes – all career highs.

The 6-foot-9, 221-pound forward recently signed a multi-year deal with Dallas that allows the Mavericks to get an extended look at Uthoff on its summer-league team and likely in their training camp before making a decision on whether to put him on their 2017-18 roster.

The audition has already begun for Uthoff. Dallas, which is eliminated from playoff contention, didn't play any of its regular starters after halftime. And Uthoff showed off a variety of skills that had Mavs coach Rick Carlisle saying recently about the Cedar Rapids product, “There are a lot of things about his game that are very intriguing.”

Uthoff made 4-of-8 shot attempts, including 2-of-3 from 3-point range – one swishing in from the left baseline on a cross-court assist from Mavs legend Dirk Nowitzki late in the first half.

And as the game wound down, Uthoff converted a 3-point play on an emphatic one-handed dunk in traffic after he used his length to collect an offensive rebound.

Uthoff has appeared in seven games this season and is averaging 3.4 points and 2.6 rebounds while shooting 33.3 percent from the floor. The Mavericks have two games remaining this regular season: Tuesday vs. Denver, Wednesday at Memphis.