MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE — After riding high for a moment, the Mavericks fell back to earth quickly after suffering a blowout loss 133-104 blowout loss the Memphis Grizzlies.
The Mavericks entered tonight as winners of 4 straight games, holding their postseason destiny in their hands, but faced a young but hungry Grizzlies team that will likely play in the play-in tournament as the season winds down with 3 games remaining. The problem with playing a team like the Grizzlies is because of their positioning and posture. A team with their backs up against the wall will always fight in that position and those are crossheirs any team wouldn’t want to be in.
Dallas began this game like they’ve done in most of the games during their winning streak, in full attack mode, but it didn’t take long for their energy to die off. 8 Mavericks scored in the first quarter with Luka Doncic leading the score with just 6 points. The next leading scorer was Tim Hardaway Jr., but for no player to score more than 10 points was the key driver to how this game would play out. Also, the Mavericks performance from beyond the arc was not up to standards after the team converted on 3 of their 12 shots from three. Statistically the Mavericks numbers were average and their production reflected that.
It was a tough start on the defensive end as well. This allowed Ja Morant to score 11 first quarter points and contribute to the Grizzlies success from beyond the arc converting on 50% of their shots from three. The Mavericks concluded the first quarter trailing the Grizzlies 27-28 after trading the lead back and forth.
Tim Hardaway Jr. who has produced at a high clip for the past month scored 10 points in the second quarter truly standing out amongst all Mavericks players even Luka Doncic who only scored 2 points on 1 out of 4 shooting. It wasn’t a traditional scoring night for the Mavericks even though through two quarters they still kept hope alive. The Grizzlies finished the quarter leading the Mavericks 60-57 and the back and forth nature continued with neither team able to gain separation. At the end of the first half the Mavericks converted on 48% of their shots and only 33% of their shots from beyond the arc.
After halftime, the Mavericks came out on the attack and got within 1 point of the lead. Dallas scored on two straight possessions and Willie Cauley-Stein sank 2 free throws after scoring one of the Mavericks second half opening baskets. It didn’t take long for the Grizzlies to respond and ultimately separate from the Mavericks who at this point were casualties of momentum and home court advantage. Memphis went on a 10-0 run and before the Mavericks could look up at the scoreboard they were down by double digits. The Grizzlies used that momentum to cap off a third quarter where they shot 62% from the field and 40% from three, finishing with a 96-82 lead over the Mavericks.
The Mavericks gas tank entering the fourth quarter was depleted and they continued to struggle shooting the ball. Not many of the Mavericks starters played much after Rick Carlisle decided to pull the plug once the Grizzlies took firm control of the game. Trey Burke led the Mavericks in points during the quarter scoring 7 points off the bench, but Dallas didn’t have much production in the quarter outside of that. Dallas shot 27% from the field and 33% from beyond the arc in comparison to Memphis who shot almost 70% from the field and 60% from three to close out a team that is ranked higher than them in playoff seeding.
Yes, this was an ugly loss and there isn’t any other way to slice it. The Mavericks were flat offensively and struggled to slow down the Memphis Grizzlies in the second half. With three games remaining on the schedule there is a lot at stake and if Dallas isn’t careful they could fall into a spot they do not want to be in when it’s all said and done.
