Ja Morant made a triumphant return after missing two games due to a shoulder injury, scoring 31 points to lead the Memphis Grizzlies to a 122-111 victory over the Dallas Mavericks. This win halted a four-game losing streak for the Grizzlies, who are currently engaged in a tight battle for the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference standings.
Prior to this game, Memphis had faced a challenging stretch, losing eight of their last 11 games and slipping to the No. 4 spot in the West with a record of 38-24, just half a game ahead of the Houston Rockets. The team had struggled to secure back-to-back wins since their four-game winning streak from Jan. 30 to Feb. 5, during which they won 10 out of 11 games.
The Grizzlies are set to face off against some of the NBA’s weaker teams in their upcoming matchups, including the New Orleans Pelicans, Phoenix Suns, and Utah Jazz, before a tough showdown with the league-leading Cleveland Cavaliers.
In the recent game, Desmond Bane contributed 27 points and 16 rebounds, while Brandon Clarke added 17 points and eight rebounds. Rookie Zach Edey impressed with 10 offensive rebounds and 13 total rebounds.
Despite missing key players like Kyrie Irving and Anthony Davis, the Mavericks put up a strong fight. However, they were outscored 33-17 in the fourth quarter as Memphis surged ahead for the win.
Jason Kidd, the Mavericks’ head coach, acknowledged the challenge of identifying a top scoring option with the current lineup, emphasizing the team’s collective effort in each game.
Looking ahead, the Mavericks will face the Suns next, while the Grizzlies will take on the Pelicans in their upcoming matchups.