The Mavericks won’t get to see Memphis Grizzlies’ superstar All-Star point guard Ja Morant on the court this season.
On Monday, the Grizzlies announced that Morant will have season-ending surgery on his right shoulder because of a torn labrum. According to the Grizzlies, the injury occurred during a training session on Saturday when Morant suffered a subluxation of his right shoulder.
Following ongoing soreness and instability, Morant subsequently underwent an MRI that revealed an underlying labral tear, which will require season-ending surgery.
The Mavs (22-15) will host the Grizzlies (13-23) on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. at American Airlines Center in a game that will be televised nationally on NBA TV.
With Morant out for the season, that means he will have missed all four games the Mavs played against the Grizzlies this season. The other three games Morant missed against the Mavs occurred while he was serving a 25-game NBA-mandated suspension for conduct detrimental to the league.
On Oct. 30, Luka Dončić contributed 35 points, 12 rebounds and 12 assists to lead the Mavs to a 125-110 win over the Grizzlies in Memphis. With Dončić sidelined for the Dec. 1 game against Memphis at ACC following the birth of his daughter, former TCU standout Desmond Bane tallied 30 points to pace the Grizzlies to a 108-94 victory over the Mavs at AAC.
And on Dec. 11 in Memphis, Dončić finished with 35 points, eight rebounds, six assists, two steals and two blocks as the Mavs upended the Grizzlies, 120-113.
In the nine games Morant played this season following his suspension, the Grizzlies posted a 6-3 record and he averaged 25.1 points, 5.6 rebounds and 8.1 assists.
*The Mavs are a perfect 3-0 on their current season-high seven-game home stand. The home stand includes a pair of wins over Portland – 126-97 and 139-103 – plus a 115-108 victory over the highly-touted Minnesota Timberwolves, who owns the second-best record in the entire NBA. After Tuesday, the Mavs will host New York on Thursday and will finish up this home stand with two games against New Orleans on Saturday and Monday.
*Memphis has won three of its last four games, including its last two on this three-game road trip. The Grizzlies defeated the Los Angeles Lakers (127-113) on Friday, and even without an injured Ja Morant, they went into Phoenix and beat the Suns, 121-115, this past Sunday.
*For the Mavs, Dereck Lively II (left ankle sprain), Danta Exum (right heel contusion) and Maxi Kleber (small right toe dislocation) are out Tuesday, and Grant Williams (right ankle sprain) is probable.
*For the Grizzlies, Ja Morant (right shoulder tear), Steven Adams (right knee), Brandon Clarke (Achilles) and Derrick Rose (thigh) will not play in Tuesday’s game. Jaren Jackson Jr. (right knee contusion) is listed as questionable, and Santi Aldama (left knee contusion) is doubtful.
*Kyrie Irving and Luka Dončić were at their dynamic best Sunday as they combined for 69 points during the Mavs’ huge win over Minnesota. Irving finished that game with 35 points, eight rebounds, five assists, three steals and two blocks, while Dončić added 34 points, six rebounds and eight assists. Dončić averages 33.7 ppg, 8.2 rpg and 9.2 apg and has converted 38.3 percent of his three-pointers, and Irving is averaging 23.5 ppg, 4.9 rpg and 5.1 apg while shooting 42 percent from behind the three-point stripe.
*Desmond Bane is averaging 24.5 ppg, 4.5 rpg and 5.4 apg while shooting 48 percent from the field and 38.7 percent from three-point range for Memphis. Jaren Jackson Jr. averages 21.3 ppg, 5.8 rpg and 1.8 bpg, and Flower Mount Marcus product, Marcus Smart, is averaging 14 ppg.
MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES (13-23) at DALLAS MAVERICKS (22-15)
When: 7:30 p.m., Tuesday
Where: American Airlines Center, Dallas
TV: BSSW, NBA TV
Radio: 97.1 FM The Freak; 99.1 FM Zona MX (Spanish)
X: @DwainPrice
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