Grizzlies Beat Mavericks 120-106, Advance to Face Thunder / Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ The Memphis Grizzlies defeated the Dallas Mavericks 120-106 Friday night, clinching the eighth seed in the Western Conference and setting up a first-round playoff matchup against the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder. Ja Morant scored 22 points despite an ankle injury.
Grizzlies Clinch Playoff Spot — Quick Look
- Grizzlies beat Mavericks 120-106 in play-in finale
- Memphis earns No. 8 seed, will face Oklahoma City
- Ja Morant plays through ankle injury, scores 22
- Jaren Jackson Jr. leads Grizzlies with 24 points
- Anthony Davis scores 40 for Dallas, exits injured
- Mavericks fail to rally after second-half push
- Memphis led wire-to-wire, never trailed in game
- Grizzlies lost all four regular-season games to OKC
Deep Look: Grizzlies Defeat Mavericks to Set Up Thunder Series
Deep Looks
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (April 19, 2025) —
With a gritty, all-hands-on-deck performance, the Memphis Grizzlies punched their ticket to the NBA Playoffs Friday night, taking down the Dallas Mavericks 120-106 in a high-stakes play-in showdown.
The victory locks in Memphis as the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference, setting up a first-round clash against the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder. Game 1 of that best-of-seven series tips off Sunday on the Thunder’s home floor.
All eyes were on Ja Morant in pregame warmups after he suffered a sprained right ankle during Tuesday’s loss to Golden State. The star guard, however, fought through the injury to post 22 points and nine assists in 35 minutes.
“I wanted to be on the floor. I wanted to play this game and get the win,” Morant said, crediting team doctors for helping him get ready just in time. His availability wasn’t confirmed until just half an hour before the game.
Jaren Jackson Jr. led all Memphis scorers with 24 points, while Desmond Bane added 22. Rookie big man Zach Edey contributed a double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds, and Scotty Pippen Jr. chipped in 13 off the bench.
Dallas, coming off a strong win over Sacramento just two nights prior, couldn’t match Memphis’ early energy. The Grizzlies jumped to a commanding 25-point lead in the first half and never relinquished control, even as the Mavericks made a push in the third quarter. A 27-12 Dallas run brought the game within single digits, but Memphis reasserted itself with a 96-80 lead heading into the fourth.
The Mavericks were led by Anthony Davis, who dropped 40 points and grabbed nine rebounds. However, he exited briefly in the fourth with a calf injury, returned briefly, then sat for the remainder of the game with his leg wrapped in ice.
“I tried to fight through it, knowing it was win-or-go-home,” Davis said postgame. “We had our chances. Obviously, a tough loss.”
The Mavericks’ momentum was further hampered by injuries and roster instability. Kyrie Irving missed the game following knee surgery, and the franchise’s blockbuster trade that sent Luka Doncic to the Lakers for Davis remains controversial. Since March 1, Dallas has gone 7-15.
“It’s been a whirlwind,” said Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd. “You’ve got to give credit to our guys for pushing through. Some would say we shouldn’t even be here.”
Memphis will now face a major challenge against the Oklahoma City Thunder, who swept the regular season series 4-0 — all by double-digit margins. Still, Grizzlies forward Jaren Jackson Jr. remains optimistic.
“A series is a series,” Jackson said. “You’ve got to stay level-headed. Whether you win a game or lose a game, it really doesn’t matter until it’s over.”
With Morant back in action, Memphis hopes to carry the momentum into the playoffs and shake off a disappointing regular season that saw them slide into the play-in tournament.
You must Register or Login to post a comment.