Table of Contents
- Morant Shines Through Injury
- Supporting Cast Delivers
- Davis Battles, Mavericks Fall
- Grizzlies Secure 8th Seed
- Strong Start from Memphis
- Dallas Rallies, But Runs Out of Steam
- What’s Next
Morant Shines Through Injury
Despite nursing a sprained right ankle, Ja Morant powered the Memphis Grizzlies with 22 points, nine assists, seven rebounds, and three steals as they clinched the 8th seed in the Western Conference playoffs with a 120–106 win over the Dallas Mavericks in Friday’s play-in game.
Supporting Cast Delivers
Morant’s gritty performance was supported by:
- Jaren Jackson Jr.: 24 points, 7 rebounds
- Desmond Bane: 22 points, 9 assists
- Zach Edey: 15 points, 11 rebounds
- Scotty Pippen Jr.: 13 points
Memphis shot 47% from the field and hit 13 of 31 (41.9%) from beyond the arc.
Davis Battles, Mavericks Fall
Anthony Davis scored a game-high 40 points with 9 rebounds, but was visibly limited in the second half due to groin and back injuries. He exited with just over 5 minutes left as the game slipped out of reach.
Klay Thompson added 18 points, and Brandon Williams chipped in 16 points and 7 assists.
Dallas shot 47.1% overall but struggled from three-point range (12 of 38, 31.6%).
Grizzlies Secure 8th Seed
With the win, the Grizzlies advance to face the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round of the playoffs, starting Sunday in Oklahoma City.
Strong Start from Memphis
Morant’s presence fired up Memphis early — they put up 37 points in the first 10 minutes, jumping to a 21-point lead. A 10-0 burst to begin the second quarter helped stretch the advantage to 25. Memphis led 66-49 at halftime, with Morant and Bane combining for 31 points.
Dallas Rallies, But Runs Out of Steam
Dallas showed life in the third quarter, cutting the deficit to just seven points following a Davis dunk. But Memphis responded with a 10-2 run, highlighted by Jackson’s three-pointer, regaining control.
Davis briefly returned in the fourth, scoring a jumper to bring the Mavs within 15, but he was clearly limited defensively. Memphis capitalized with quick buckets, and Davis exited for good with the Grizzlies leading by 19.
What’s Next
The Grizzlies now face the Thunder in a best-of-seven series, while the Mavericks enter an offseason filled with questions after a turbulent year — marked by the trade of Luka Dončić and the loss of Kyrie Irving to an ACL injury.
