Mavericks at Grizzlies
The Memphis Grizzlies can complete a dominant four-game sweep in the season series when they host the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday night in a matchup of non-playoff teams. The Grizzlies won the first two meetings this season by a combined 40 points and knocked off the Mavericks 122-112 in Dallas on Friday behind the first career triple-double from guard Delon Wright.
“I think I had one in high school. Yeah, it’s been a while,” Wright told reporters after recording 26 points, 14 assists and 10 rebounds in the victory. “I haven’t gotten the minutes in the NBA I feel like to get it, so now that I’m finally playing a lot, It’s easier for me.” Leading scorer Mike Conley (21.1) could miss his fourth straight game with an ankle injury for Memphis, which is 3-3 in its last six games and has already won 10 more times than it did in 2017-18 when the Grizzlies went 22-60. The Mavericks have dropped four of the last six and leading scorer Luka Doncic (21.2), the frontrunner for NBA Rookie of the Year honors, is questionable with a thigh injury after missing Friday's loss when Dallas was outscored 33-5 in fast-break points. “We didn’t play hard,” Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle told reporters. “It was the same way the last time we played (Memphis). They play with more force.”
TV: 6 p.m. ET, FS Southwest Plus (Dallas), FS Southeast (Memphis)
ABOUT THE MAVERICKS (31-48): Carlisle told reporters that Doncic, who also paces the club in rebounds (7.7) and assists (5.9), has not been shut down for the season and could play in the final three games of the season. Guard Courtney Lee had season highs of 21 points and seven assists in the win over Memphis on Friday while forward Justin Jackson is scoring 17.3 per game over the past three. Dirk Nowitzki had 12 points in the first of the home-and-home set and pulled within one defensive rebound of becoming the fifth player in NBA history with 10,000 as he contemplates coming back for a 22nd season.
ABOUT THE GRIZZLIES (32-47): Memphis is without much of its projected starting lineup because of injuries, allowing several players more opportunities to make an impression as Wright has averaged 17 points the last four games. Ivan Rabb, a 6-10 forward, is averaging 12.5 points and 9.0 boards in two straight starts while guard Tyler Dorsey has taken advantage of his extra playing time to score 14.5 points per contest in the past eight. Veteran forward Justin Holiday (10.1 points per game) scored 20 on 8-of-13 shooting from the field - 3-of-6 from behind the 3-point arc - in Friday’s victory.
TIP-INS
1. Dallas F Dwight Powell (10.6 points) and G Jalen Brunson (9.2) were rested in the first of the home-and-home set.
2. Memphis assistant Jerry Stackhouse was signed to a six-year contact as the new coach at Vanderbilt on Friday.
3. The Mavericks are 8-31 on the road this season while the Grizzlies are 20-19 on their home court.