mavericks vs grizzlies– The race for the eighth seed in the Western Conference will be settled when the Memphis Grizzlies host the Dallas Mavericks at FedEx Center on Friday, April 18. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN and will tip off at 9:30 p.m. ET (8:30 p.m. CT). The winner will face the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round, while the loser will be eliminated from the playoffs. In a nail-biting Western Conference Play-In Tournament game, the Memphis Grizzlies defeated the Dallas Mavericks 78-68 Friday night, securing the eighth seed and a first-round playoff matchup against the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder.
The atmosphere at FedEx Center was electric as the two teams battled hard for a coveted playoff spot. The Grizzlies, despite a late-season slump and the absence of key players like Jaren Jackson Jr. and Desmond Bane, managed to hold off a determined Mavericks team.
Ja Morant, who was listed as questionable before the game due to a right ankle sprain, showed his resilience by leading the Grizzlies with a hard-fought 21 points. Center Zach Edey also made a significant impact, contributing 12 points and 8 rebounds.
For the Mavericks, Anthony Davis continued his strong play since being traded mid-season, scoring 31 points and grabbing 7 rebounds. Klay Thompson added 14 points, but the Mavericks struggled with consistency on offense, ultimately falling short.
The game was close, with the lead changing hands several times. The Memphis Grizzlies took a clear lead in the first quarter, leading the Dallas Mavericks 39-24. However, the Mavericks fought back in the second quarter, narrowing the gap to 66-49 at halftime. In the third quarter, both teams scored less points, with the Memphis Grizzlies scoring only 12 points and the Dallas Mavericks scoring 19 points. In the last quarter, both teams were on full defense, and neither team was able to completely close the gap.
A key moment in the game came late in the fourth quarter when Memphis guard Naji Marshall stole the ball and scored on a fast break, extending the Grizzlies’ lead to six points with just over two minutes remaining. The Mavericks were unable to overcome this late push.
This loss marks the end of a tumultuous season for the Dallas Mavericks, who showed promise after acquiring Anthony Davis but struggled with injuries and consistency down the stretch.
Meanwhile, the Memphis Grizzlies will now face a daunting task against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round of the playoffs, starting Sunday. Despite being the underdogs, their performance in the play-in tournament shows they are ready to compete.
Key Stats:
- Ja Morant (Grizzlies): 21 points
- Anthony Davis (Mavericks): 31 points, 7 rebounds
- Zach Edey (Grizzlies): 12 points, 8 rebounds
- Klay Thompson (Mavericks): 14 points
Looking Ahead:
The Memphis Grizzlies will travel to Oklahoma City to face the Thunder in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series on Sunday. The Mavericks will head into the offseason, looking to regroup and build on the positives from the latter part of their season.