Mavs-Grizz preview: Doncic, Porzingis will miss tonight’s game

Snapping out of their doldrums just got a bit tougher for the Dallas Mavericks as their top two players — point guard Luka Doncic and forward Kristaps Porzingis — will both miss tonight’s game against the Memphis Grizzlies.

Tipoff is at 7:30 p.m. at American Airlines Center.

Doncic is dealing with left ankle soreness, while Porzingis will miss his second straight game due to a left knee contusion.

Because of Friday’s stunning 107-91 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans at AAC, the Mavs are coming off their first setback of the season to a team that had a sub.-500 record when that game was played. But the Mavs are 69-31 all-time against Memphis, including a 37-13 record during games played inside AAC.

The Mavs have lost six of their last eight games, while the Grizzlies enter this contest with a three-game winning streak.

MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES (12-10) AT MAVERICKS (11-10)

Time: 7:30 p.m.

Place: American Airlines Center, Dallas

TV: BSSW

Radio: The Eagle, 97.1 FM; Univision 99.1 FM (Spanish)

About the Mavericks: This is the second night of a back-to-back for the Mavs, who are 1-1 in these scenarios. The Mavs lost the second leg of a back-to-back in Denver, 106-75, on Oct. 29, and bounced back to capture the second half of a back-to-back in San Antonio, 109-108, on Nov. 3. . .This also is the second of a three-game home stand for the Mavs. The home stand opened in not-so-spectacular fashion, no thanks to Friday’s 107-91 surprising loss to a New Orleans Pelicans team the Mavs had just thoroughly spanked by 32 points in New Orleans this past Wednesday when they shot a franchise record 68.7 percent from the field. The Mavs will complete this home stand against Brooklyn on Tuesday before packing up and flying out for a three-game trip to Memphis on Wednesday, Indiana on Dec. 10 and Oklahoma City on Dec. 12. . .Unfortunately for the Mavs, they’ve been up and down lately. And more “down” than “up,” as they enter tonight’s contest with losses in six of their last eight games. . .Luka Doncic (left ankle soreness) and Kristaps Porzingis (left knee contusion) will both miss tonight’s game, and that does not bode well for the Mavs to have both of their star players out of the lineup. In three games against Memphis since he joined the Mavs in a Jan. 31, 2019 trade with the New York Knicks, Porzingis is averaging 26.3 ppg, 9.7 rpg, 1.7 bpg and 1.7 spg and shooting 50 percent from the field and 44 percent from beyond the three-point arc. . .Willie Cauley-Stein has missed the past three games due to personal reasons. . .Frank Ntilikina was out for four games due to a right calf strain before suiting up for Friday’s contest against the Pelicans. However, Ntilikina did not play in Friday’s game because of a coach’s decision.

About the Grizzlies: The last time the Grizzlies played a game, they did something no other NBA team has ever done. Thanks to some historical shooting and some terrific defense, the Grizzlies whipped up on the Oklahoma City Thunder by a whopping 73 points on Thursday. Final score: Memphis 152, OKC 79. THIS IS NOT A TYPO! And the Grizzlies’ super talented point guard Ja Morant didn’t even play. This is the largest margin of victory by any team in the 75-year history of the NBA. The previous record was that 148-80 thumping – by 68 points — the Cleveland Cavaliers put on the Miami Heat way back on Dec. 17, 1991. . . .The 152 points are the most ever scored by a Grizzlies team, eclipsing the 144 points they scored against the Golden State Warriors on Jan. 3, 2007. And the 73-point margin of victory shattered the Grizzlies’ previous team record margin of victory of 49 that happened during a 133-84 win over Houston on Feb. 28, 2021. . .Jaren Jackson Jr. led Memphis against OKC with 27 points as nine members of the Grizzlies tallied 10 or more points. By quarters, Memphis outscored OKC by 15, 21, 15 and 22 points, respectively. The Grizzlies shot a franchise record 62.5 percent of their field goals and also converted 52.8 percent of their three-point shots, while OKC shot 32.9 percent from the floor and 28.9 percent from behind the three-point stripe. The top two plus/minus contributors for Memphis were two reserve players. Santi Aldama turned in a ridiculously high plus/minus of plus 52, and De’Anthony Melton was a plus 46. . .Memphis is a perfect 3-0 since Morant sprained his right knee on Nov. 26 against the Atlanta Hawks. Morant will not play in tonight’s game. . .This is a brief two-game road trip for the Grizzlies, who play at Miami on Monday before hosting the Mavs on Wednesday.

Twitter: @DwainPrice