Grizzlies at Mavericks
While the Memphis Grizzlies are essentially playing out the string, the Dallas Mavericks -- who host the Grizzlies on Friday -- are reluctantly counting down the days with superstar forward Dirk Nowitzki in the lineup. Nowitzki is expected to retire after completing his 21st season and Friday's tilt is the second-to-last chance for the home fans to express their adoration for the future Hall of Famer.
Meanwhile, his Mavericks are 1-1 on their current three-game homestand after Wednesday's 110-108 loss to Minnesota, with Nowitzki successor Luka Doncic passing up a potential game-tying shot in the closing seconds and watching teammate Jalen Brunson miss a 3-point try at the buzzer. "For me it's not a question," Doncic told reporters of the decision. "I trusted him. The whole team trusted him. It was a great shot. Sometimes it's not going to go in." The Grizzlies, who host Dallas on Sunday in the second half of the home-and-home set, are 1-2 on their current four-game road trip following a 116-89 setback in Orlando on Wednesday. Memphis dressed only 10 players for the game and was without all of its regular starters.
TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, FS Southeast (Memphis), FS Southwest (Dallas)
ABOUT THE GRIZZLIES (31-47): Guard Mike Conley, the team's leading scorer with 21 points per game, missed the last two contests due to an ankle injury. Memphis recently lost Jonas Valanciunas (ankle) for the rest of the season and has not had fellow center Joakim Noah (knee) for several games. "We're down a lot of bodies right now so we're just trying to go out there and fight and compete the best that we can," guard Tyler Dorsey, who scored eight points at Portland, told reporters.
ABOUT THE MAVERICKS (31-47): Doncic scored 27 points and grabbed 12 rebounds against the Timberwolves after missing the previous two games due to a thigh bruise. Dwight Powell added 24 points on 8-of-9 shooting and is 33-of-40 from the floor over his last five contests at home. Nowitzki needs eight defensive rebounds to become the fifth player in NBA history with 10,000, and five boards overall to surpass Elgin Baylor (11,463) and move into 26th place all time.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Memphis took the first two meetings while holding Dallas to an average of 84.5 points.
2. Grizzlies SF Chandler Parsons is averaging 16.5 points in 24.5 minutes over his last two games.
3. The Mavericks play their final home game against Phoenix on Tuesday.