Mavericks at Grizzlies
The Dallas Mavericks have a chance to string together five consecutive wins for the first time in three seasons on Monday, when they visit the Memphis Grizzlies. Behind 24 points from standout rookie Luka Doncic, the Mavericks got past a short-handed Golden State Warriors squad 112-109 on Saturday.
Dallas has given up an average of 92.8 points during its four-game run as it begins to thrive on a physical style. "Our guys worked incredibly hard to wear on them throughout the game, and we made their shots a little more difficult," Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle told reporters after the victory over the defending champs. "When you work as hard as we did, you get luck to go your way." The Grizzlies are on a streak of their own after topping Minnesota 100-87 on Sunday for their third straight triumph. Marc Gasol registered his second consecutive double-double with 26 points and 13 rebounds while Memphis held the Timberwolves to 39.2 percent shooting.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, FS Southwest (Dallas), FS Southeast (Memphis)
ABOUT THE MAVERICKS (7-8): All five starters scored at least 13 points on Saturday, with Doncic and Harrison Barnes (23 points) leading the way as Dallas improved to 6-2 at home. J.J. Barea added 13 points off the bench, and the veteran guard is averaging 14.6 in only 20.2 minutes while shooting 52.9 percent over his last five games. Dorian Finney-Smith has started two of the last three contests in place of Wesley Matthews, who remains day-to-day with a hamstring strain.
ABOUT THE GRIZZLIES (10-5): Gasol hit 4-of-7 3-point attempts and has 12 makes from beyond the arc during the team's three-game winning streak. "It's a game-changer," coach J.B. Bickerstaff told reporters of Gasol's outside shooting. "It puts a ton of pressure on big guys who aren't used to guarding in that position. Big guys' natural instinct is to protect the paint, drop off and be back, but his ability to shoot the basketball... it opens up driving lanes because you're pulling other guys, largest defenders, away from the baskets. And those shots break games open for you." Forward JaMychal Green recorded eight points and eight rebounds in 21 minutes in his return from a 12-game layoff due to a broken jaw.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Dallas last won five games in a row when it put together a six-game run late in the 2015-16 season.
2. Grizzlies PG Mike Conley has averaged 23.8 points over his last five games.
3. The Mavericks won three of last season's four meetings, including a 34-point triumph in the final encounter.