The Dallas Mavericks and Memphis Grizzlies will butt heads again for the second time in just five days.
Memphis went into American Airlines Center and defeated the Mavs, 97-90, this past Saturday in a game that was sparked by plenty of defense. The Grizzlies led that game, 49-37, at halftime and 72-58 after the third quarter.
Upset that the Mavs didn’t select him in the 2020 NBA Draft, former TCU standout Desmond Bane took out his frustrations on the Mavs by producing 29 points, nine rebounds and several key baskets down the stretch when the game was still there for the taking. Bane, who was 12-of-20 from the field and 4-of-6 from three-point land, tallied 11 of his fourth in the fourth quarter.
Luka Doncic (left ankle soreness) and Kristaps Porzingis (left knee contusion) missed that game for the Mavs, while Tim Hardaway Jr. poured in 20 of his 29 points in the fourth quarter.
PREVIEW
MAVERICKS (11-12) AT MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES (14-10)
Time: 7 p.m.
Place: FedEx Forum, Memphis
TV: BSSW
Radio: The Eagle, 97.1 FM; Univision 99.1 FM (Spanish)
About the Mavericks: For the first time this season, the Mavs will go into a game tonight sporting a losing record. The team’s 11-12 record is highlighted by losses in eight of their last 10 games. And the latest loss was absolutely heartbreaking. On their home court Tuesday night, the Mavs led the Brooklyn Nets by a whopping 17 points (71-54) with 7:30 left in the third quarter following a three-pointer by Kristaps Porzingis off a feed from Luka Doncic. But from there, the Nets stormed back and outscored the Mavs, 48-28, over the game’s final 19 minutes and 30 seconds. The Mavs were still up, 86-75, with 11:30 remaining in the game, but couldn’t fend off the Nets in the end. Doncic led the Mavs with 28 points, six rebounds and nine assists, and Porzingis added 17 points, 12 boards and five assists. . .There’s no time for the Mavs to feel sorry for themselves because tonight’s game is the second night of a back-to-back. On the second leg of a back-to-back this season the Mavs are 1-2 following a loss in Denver (106-75) on Oct. 29, a win in San Antonio on Nov. 3, and this past Saturday’s loss at home to the Memphis Grizzlies (97-90). . .This is the opener of a three-game road trip and also includes a game Friday night in Indianapolis and one Sunday night in Oklahoma City before the Mavs return home to host the last leg of a back-to-back on Monday night against the Charlotte Hornets. . .The only other time the Mavs have had a losing record this season happened when they dropped their season-opener in Atlanta, 113-87, on Oct. 21.
About the Grizzlies: One of the surprise teams in the NBA this season, the Grizzlies are the current leaders of the Southwest Division and are fourth overall in the Western Conference. And that has come in a rather odd way. . .Memphis enters tonight’s contest with a five-game winning streak. That’s the longest current winning streak in the league behind the six-game winning streak the Houston Rockets have pieced together. And the Grizzlies’ streak has come ever since their best player, point guard Ja Morant, sprained his left knee during a 132-100 loss at home to the Atlanta Hawks on Nov. 26. In fact, the Grizzlies incredibly have never trailed in any of the five games since the streak started. . .After the loss to the Hawks, the Grizzlies won at home game against Sacramento (128-101) on Nov. 28, won in Toronto (98-91) on Nov. 30, demolished Oklahoma City (152-79) last Thursday, emerged with that 97-90 victory in Dallas this past Saturday, and then went to Miami and upended the Heat, 105-90, on Monday. . .In the victory over Miami, all five Memphis starters scored in double figures. Desmond Bane finished with 21 points, eight rebounds and two steals, Dillon Brooks collected 21 points and eight assists, Steven Adams finished with 17 points and 16 boards, Jaren Jackson Jr. had 14 points and two blocked shots, and Tyus Jones added 14 points and seven assists. . .The Grizzlies are 32-69 all-time against the Mavs, including an 18-32 record during games played in Memphis.
Twitter: @DwainPrice
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