2 weeks Ago By Ana Kieu, Total Apex Sports
The Dallas Mavericks lived to see another day, but Friday was win or go home against the Memphis Grizzlies. The Mavericks’ new allies were health, confidence, and momentum entering Friday’s game. But the Mavericks’ season ended with a 120-106 loss to the Grizzlies at the FedExForum.
Anthony Davis led the Mavericks with 40 points, 9 rebounds, and 2 assists. Klay Thompson followed with 18 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists. Brandon Williams added 16 points, 3 rebounds, and 7 assists.
Naji Marshall had 13 points, 4 rebounds, and 5 assists. Max Christie scored 11 points and 1 rebound. Daniel Gafford recorded 5 points, 3 rebounds, and 1 assist.
Dante Exum tallied 3 points and 2 rebounds. Dallas Mavericks-Memphis Grizzlies Recap The Dallas Mavericks ruled out Kyrie Irving with left knee surgery and Olivier-Maxence Prosper with right wrist surgery. The Mavericks’ starting lineup featured Klay Thompson, Naji Marshall, PJ Washington Jr.
, Anthony Davis, and Dereck Lively II. The Memphis Grizzlies ruled out Brandon Clarke with a high-grade PCL sprain, Jaylen Wells with a broken right wrist, concussion, and facial laceration, and Zyon Pullin with right patellar tendon surgery. The Grizzlies’ starting lineup featured Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, Scotty Pippen Jr.
, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Zach Edey. The Grizzlies went on a 7-0 run to open the first quarter.
Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Desmond Bane — a Texas Christian University alum who met his future wife, fitness instructor Tatum Talley, at their college orientation in August 2016 — shined from the get-go. The Mavericks sped up, as Thompson buried two 3-pointers, but failed to keep up with the Grizzlies’ offense.
The Grizzlies led 39-24 after the first quarter. The Grizzlies opened the second quarter with a 10-0 run. Bane buried back-to-back 3-pointers, which prompted the Mavericks to call a timeout.
Davis remained the Mavericks’ top scorer, despite suffering an injury scare to his left leg and requiring medical attention from an athletic trainer late in the first quarter. The Grizzlies took a 66-49 lead into halftime. The Mavericks picked up the pace to start the third quarter.
Davis contributed to the Mavericks’ 9-2 run in the opening minutes. Thompson knocked down back-to-back buckets to cut the Grizzlies’ lead to 10 points. But the Grizzlies picked up where they left off.
Jackson Jr. saw an increase in offensive production, while a late 3-pointer from John Konchar sustained a lead. The Grizzlies took a 96-78 lead after three quarters.
The Mavericks faced a do-or-die moment in the fourth quarter for an upset over the Grizzlies. Davis and Thompson continued to highlight the Mavericks’ scoring prowess. Davis sat on the bench and took his jersey off as the Mavericks trailed 114-95 with about four minutes left in regulation.
The Grizzlies won 120-106. Mavericks-Grizzlies Highlights The Dallas Mavericks-Memphis Grizzlies game featured multiple highlights, such as the Mavericks’ potential lottery pick at the 2025 NBA Draft. If the Mavericks lose out, they could add reinforcements to a reeling roster .
The possible options are BYU Guard Egor Demin, Michigan State combo guard Jase Richard (the son of 14-year NBA veteran Jason Richardson), and Saint Quentin point guard Nolan Traore (of the LNB Elite). For the Mavericks, the game against the Sacramento Kings resulted in a win and a blunder. Davis committed a confusing goaltending violation on a three-point shot attempt by Keon Ellis during the second quarter.
Davis’ impact was felt as Davis led the Mavericks with 27 points, 9 rebounds, and 1 assist in 35 minutes. For the Grizzlies, Ja Morant’s sister, women’s basketball guard Teniya Morant, slammed the NBA over a controversial call during Tuesday’s game. Teniya shared a post on her Instagram story that read, “BREAKING: NBA says they made a mistake.
The Grizzlies should have had the ball with 7 seconds left down 1 point.” Final Thoughts The Dallas Mavericks used a dominant performance to eliminate the Sacramento Kings 120-106 at the Golden 1 Center on Wednesday. The Mavericks will play the Memphis Grizzlies to secure the Western Conference’s No.
8 seed. The winner will start a best-of-seven series against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday. The Mavericks shot 49.
9% from the field, 50.0% (14-28 3FG) from deep, and 92.3% (24-26 FT) from the foul line in Tuesday’s win at the Kings.
It marked the first time since March 12, 2024, at the Utah Jazz that the Mavericks shot at least 49% from the field, 50% from the three-point line, and 90% from the stripe in a game. A year later, Thompson was terrific this time at the Kings, with 23 points and an impressive 8-of-11 from the field, including 5-of-7 from downtown. The last time Thompson had a Play-In Tournament game at the Golden 1 Center, he shot a 0-of-10 from the field, including 0-for-6 from downtown, on a scoreless night.
Brandon Williams responded to the left oblique strain with a solid game against the Kings. Williams scored 17 points in 18 minutes off the bench and went 5-of-8 from the field, including 3-of-4 from downtown, in an efficient performance to prove his worth on the court. This article first appeared on Total Apex Sports and was syndicated with permission.
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