Two players with North Texas ties topped takeaways in loss to Grizzlies

During Tuesday’s game against the Memphis Grizzlies, it was as if someone unfortunately switched uniforms with the Mavericks.

What other explanation is there for how a Mavs’ team that looked so impressive in defeating the highly-touted Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday, but two days later do a complete 180 and lose to a Memphis Grizzlies team that was without its best two players? It left the Mavs trying to point out the ups and downs of life in the NBA following their disappointing 120-103 loss to the Grizzlies.

“When you look at the energy, the energy was flatline,” coach Jason Kidd said. “We tried everybody. We just couldn’t find any energy.”

The Mavs were riding high after defeating a Minnesota squad that owns the second-best record in the NBA. But against a Memphis squad that was without injured All-Stars Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr., the Mavs looked like a shell of themselves.

“(When) we play against some of the best teams in the league, we play well, we’re up and our focus level is there,” guard Kyrie Irving said. “(But) then we play against a team that doesn’t have Jaren and Ja and they take advantage of their opportunity and hit us in the mouth the whole entire night.”

In other words, Tuesday was not a night the Mavs want to remember.

Here are the three takeaways from the 17-point loss to the Grizzlies.

HOMEBOYS DID IN THE MAVS: Of course, there were generous contributions from several members of the Memphis Grizzlies on their way to upsetting the Mavs. And the two players who did the most damage have some roots right here in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. Desmond Bane, who played college basketball at TCU from 2016-20 and helped the Horned Frogs win the 2017 NIT championship, finished the game with 32 points and nine rebounds. And Marcus Smart, who graduated from Flower Mound Marcus High School in 2014, collected 23 points and two steals in just 21 minutes.

IRVING, DONIC DID THEIR PART: Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic did their best to keep the Mavs afloat during Tuesday’s game. Irving and Doncic combined for 64 of the Mavs’ 103 points, 14 of their 33 rebounds, 10 of their 20 assists, seven of their nine steals and 20 of their 36 made field goals. But it wasn’t enough as the Mavs’ supporting cast finished with 39 points, 19 rebounds, 10 assists, two steals and 16 made field goals. Irving wound up with team highs in points (33), rebounds (eight) and steals (four), while Doncic contributed 31 points, six rebounds, a team-high six assists and three steals.

GRIZZLIES WON REBOUNDING BATTLE: The Grizzlies were the big winners in the rebounding battle, which is one of the big reasons they were the big winners on the scoreboard. Overall, Memphis outrebounded the Mavs, 54-33, including 18-8 on the offensive end of the court. That paved the way for the Grizzlies to outscore the Mavs in second-chance points, 21-8. Memphis had six players grab at least five rebounds. led by the game-high 11 boards Xavier Tillman came off the bench to collect. Also, Desmond Bane picked up nine rebounds, John Konchar had seven, Vince Williams Jr. finished with six, and Luke Kennard and David Roddy had five boards apiece.

X: @DwainPrice