Grizzlies at Mavericks
The suddenly hot Memphis Grizzlies look to post their fourth consecutive victory when they visit the Dallas Mavericks on Friday. Memphis was struggling with five straight setbacks before bouncing back strong with three wins by an average of 31.7 points.
The Grizzlies have won two of the games by 39 points, including Wednesday's 118-79 road trouncing of the Brooklyn Nets, and are giving up an average of 85 points during the stretch. "One thing we talked about was trying to find our identity and what we're good at and we all agreed that's defense," reserve forward Josh Jackson told reporters after the win over Brooklyn. "Every night, we know we're facing tough opponents and guys who can score the ball really well but we feel like we have a really good defensive group and we're going to rely on that every night." Dallas won six of its past nine games and star point guard Luka Doncic set the franchise record for career double-doubles (22) by recording 30 points, 17 rebounds and 10 assists in Wednesday's 127-123 overtime win over the visiting New Orleans Pelicans. Doncic's left thumb continues to bother him and postgame X-rays were negative but he missed Thursday's practice.
TIME: 8:30 p.m. ET. TV: FS Southeast, FS Southwest
ABOUT THE GRIZZLIES (31-31): Jackson (19 points) and backup point guard Tyus Jones (18) were Memphis' leading scorers against Brooklyn in a strong effort that kept the club 3 1/2 games ahead of the Portland Trail Blazers and Sacramento Kings for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. "I think it would mean a lot," rookie point guard Ja Morant told reporters about the possibility of making the playoffs. "We're a whole new team. We're young. To make the playoffs again, I can't tell you the last time they made the playoffs, but for us to make it would be special." The Grizzlies were part of the 2017 postseason to end a seven-season run before winning just 55 total games over the past two seasons.
ABOUT THE MAVERICKS (38-25): Doncic surpassed Jason Kidd as the franchise's triple-doubles king and he said he plans to stay on the court despite the troublesome thumb injury. "It hurts, but you've got to get through it," Doncic said afterward. "You're probably going to get hit every game, almost every game, so you've just got to fight through it." Power forward Kristaps Porzingis recorded 34 points and 12 rebounds and has topped 30 in back-to-back games and five of his last 12 appearances.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The teams split two meetings this season but the Grizzlies have won four of the past six matchups.
2. Memphis PF Jaren Jackson Jr. (knee) will miss his seventh straight game but could return sometime next week.
3. Dallas F Dorian Finney-Smith (hip) will be a game-time decision after being injured against the Pelicans.