Grizzlies at Mavericks
The Dallas Mavericks ended a five-game slide with a win over the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday and have a chance to make it back-to-back victories when they host the struggling Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday. The rebuilding Mavericks got encouraging performances from a pair of rookies in Wednesday's triumph and will usher Luka Doncic out of his teenage years on Saturday.
Doncic, the presumptive NBA Rookie of the Year, led the way with 26 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists in Wednesday's 110-101 victory, hours before celebrating his 20th birthday on Thursday. "He made, like, two or three bombs," swingman Tim Hardaway Jr. told reporters of Doncic. "I'm over here looking at him on the court and like, 'Can you get closer?' All of them were splashes – all net. When he has it going like that, he's hard to stop. I'm happy he ended his teens with a bang right now and I'm happy we got a win." The Grizzlies are rebuilding as well and drifted into the No. 14 spot in the Western Conference, with only the NBA-worst Phoenix Suns keeping them out of the basement. Memphis doesn't appear to have given up and four of its last five losses came by six or fewer points, including a 109-107 home loss to Chicago on Wednesday.
TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, FS Southeast (Memphis), FS Southwest (Dallas)
ABOUT THE GRIZZLIES (24-39): Memphis traded away franchise icon Marc Gasol prior to the deadline and is taking a very cautious approach with standout rookie Jaren Jackson Jr.'s quad injury, leaving point guard Mike Conley to carry a heavy load. Conley needed 21 shots to reach 21 points in Wednesday's loss and is still feeling out a handful of new teammates that came over at the trade deadline. "We're still learning each other," Conley told reporters. "We were just talking after the game. We're still figuring out where everybody is going to get their looks and get shots. Find room to be aggressive."
ABOUT THE MAVERICKS (27-34): The other rookie to star on Wednesday was point guard Jalen Brunson, who scored a season-high 24 points on 9-of-14 shooting and added five assists and three steals in 34 minutes. "I was able to make shots and I think I really just changed the game on the defensive end," Brunson told reporters. "I had a lot of energy defensively. My confidence level is always getting better because I'm always working as hard as I can, and that's where I get my confidence from. So, the harder I work the more confidence I have." Brunson is getting a chance to fill a larger role in the offense since the team traded away Dennis Smith Jr., Harrison Barnes and Wesley Matthews.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Hardaway (illness) sat out practice on Friday and is day-to-day.
2. Grizzlies PF Ivan Rabb (heel) sat out Wednesday and is questionable for Saturday.
3. Memphis took the first meeting this season 98-88 at home on Nov. 19.