MEMPHIS, Tenn. — In a thrilling matchup on Monday night, Jaren Jackson Jr. delivered an impressive performance, putting up 35 points, along with 13 rebounds and five assists, leading the Memphis Grizzlies to a solid 119-104 victory over the Dallas Mavericks.
Scotty Pippen Jr. contributed significantly with 18 points, while Jaylen Wells scored 17 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, helping Memphis secure their 10th victory in the last 11 home games.
P.J. Washington was the standout for the Mavericks with 17 points and 10 rebounds. Naji Marshall added 16 points to the scoreboard, and both Klay Thompson and Jaden Hardy contributed 15 points apiece. Unfortunately for Dallas, this loss marks their fifth straight defeat.
The Mavericks were already challenged, playing without their leading scorer Luka Doncic due to a left calf strain. Earlier that day, it was confirmed that Kyrie Irving would also be sidelined for an indefinite period because of a bulging disk in his back. Compounding their issues, Dallas lost Daniel Gafford to a left ankle sprain during the second quarter, leaving them without their primary scoring options. The Grizzlies also faced their own challenges, as they were missing their starting backcourt with injuries keeping Ja Morant and Desmond Bane off the court.
Key observations from the game show that the Mavericks struggled severely without Doncic and Irving, who together account for over 52 points per game. On the other hand, the Grizzlies faltered early due to turnovers and poor shooting but managed to gather themselves, regaining control of the game through better offensive execution in the latter three quarters.
A pivotal moment arrived when Memphis extended its lead to 13 points early in the fourth quarter, marking their largest advantage at that stage. However, the Mavericks attempted to claw back into contention by relying on three-point shooting, narrowing the gap to just five within the last seven minutes. Memphis countered with a decisive 10-2 run, restoring their lead to 13 points with just 2:12 remaining in the game.
One noteworthy stat is that Memphis, ranked second in the league for points scored in the paint, dominated the interior play with 52 points scored inside. Additionally, they edged out Dallas in rebounding, 55-50, which included a notable 13 offensive rebounds.
Looking ahead, the Mavericks will host the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday, while the Grizzlies are set to face off against the Houston Rockets at home on Thursday.
