MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES (32-16) AT MAVERICKS (26-20)
Time: 6:30 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 finale of a five-game home stand for the Mavs before they start a two-game road trip with games Tuesday at the Golden State Warriors and Wednesday at the Portland Trail Blazers. . .The Mavs are 3-1 on this home stand following victories over the Orlando Magic (108-92), Oklahoma City Thunder (104-102) and Toronto Raptors (102-98), and Thursday’s loss to the Phoenix Suns (109-101). . .The Mavs have won 10 of their last 12 games. . .The Mavs were able to practice Saturday – for the first time in 2022. That workout enabled them to work on a few things that they’ve usually had to make adjustments to during the game. . .The Mavs have gone 23 straight games without allowing anyone to shoot 50 percent or better from the field against them. That’s currently the longest active streak in the NBA. The last team to shoot at least 50 percent from the floor against the Mavs were the Brooklyn Nets, who converted 50.6 percent of their field goals during a 102-99 win over the Mavs on Dec. 7. . .The Mavs are 2-1 against the Grizzlies this season, and the road team has won all three games. Ex-TCU standout Desmond Bane picked up 29 points and nine rebounds as Memphis defeated the Mavs in Dallas, 97-90, on Dec. 4 in a game Luka Doncic (left ankle soreness) and Kristaps Porzingis (left knee contusion) missed. . .On Dec. 8, the Mavs got 26 points, eight rebounds and seven assists from Doncic – plus 19 points from Porzingis – during a 104-96 win over the Grizzlies in Memphis. . .The Grizzlies were the hottest team in the NBA when the Mavs went into Memphis on Jan. 14 and snapped the Grizzlies’ 11-game winning streak with a 112-85 victory. In that 
game, the Mavs outscored the Grizzlies in the second half, 62-30. Doncic finished that game with a triple-double – 27 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists. . .Sterling Brown will miss tonight’s contest with left foot soreness.
About the Grizzlies: As they keep on stacking win after win after win, the Grizzlies are one of the surprise teams in the NBA this season. Not only are the Grizzlies leading the Southwest Division, but they also surprisingly have the third-best record in the entire NBA and are one of only four teams that have won at least 30 games this season. . .At 15-7, Memphis is tied with the Utah Jazz for the league’s third-best road record behind the Phoenix Suns (18-4) and Brooklyn Nets (17-5). . .During that 11-game winning streak the Grizzlies recently had, they produced wins in Phoenix (114-133), Brooklyn (118-104) and Cleveland (110-106). They also beat the Lakers twice during that 11-game winning streak – 104-99 on Dec. 29 in Memphis and 127-119 on Jan. 9 in LA. Ja Morant had a season-high 41 points and 10 rebounds in the Dec. 29th victory over the Lakers. . .With his ridiculous athleticism, Morant has been one of the darlings of the NBA this season. Morant poured in 38 points in Friday’s 112-118 win in Denver. The slippery point guard scored 23 of those points in the first half, which is the most he’s ever scored in the first half of a game. De’Anthony Melton came off the bench to contribute 21 points and nine rebounds against Denver, and Jaren Jackson Jr. added 20 points, including a huge three-pointer that padded the Grizzlies’ lead to 118-111 with 41 seconds remaining in the game. . .The Grizzlies like to get up and down the floor and score – even after an opponent’s made basket. That has translated into 112.1 ppg for Memphis, which ranks fourth in the NBA. The Grizzlies also are very aggressive on the boards and love to fill the passing lanes as they lead the league in rebounds (48.2 rpg), steals (10.2 spg) and blocks (6.4 bpg). . .Morant (25.1 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 6.9 apg), Dillon Brooks (18.4 ppg), Bane (17.7 ppg) and Jackson (16.5 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 2.2 bpg) are the main leaders for Memphis. But Brooks is sidelined with a left ankle sprain.
Twitter: @DwainPrice
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