MAVS (5-3) AT GRIZZLIES (2-6)
Time: 7 p.m. CT
Place: FedEx Forum, Memphis
TV: FSSW
Radio: ESPN 103.3 FM; Univision 1270 AM (Spanish)
About the Mavs: This is the second night of a back-to-back for the Mavs, and their first one of the season. . .There’s no way to sugarcoat it, Friday’s 106-102 loss at home to New York was brutal considering that the Knicks came to American Airlines Center tied with New Orleans for the fewest wins (one) in the NBA. The Mavs gave up 36 points in the first quarter, and New York wound up shooting 50 percent from 3-point range (14-of-28). . . How wild is the Western Conference? The Mavs entered the game against the Knicks as the No. 2 seed. The loss tumbled them into a tie for the fifth spot, but technically the eighth spot if the playoffs started today. . .Point guard Luka Doncic registered his fourth triple-double of the season Friday when he collected a career-high 38 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists against the Knicks. Doncic is averaging 28.1 ppg, 10.4 rpg and 9.3 apg. The Mavs are 2-2 this season when Doncic registers a triple-double. . .Forward Kristaps Porzingis contributed 28 points, nine rebounds and five blocks against the Knicks. Porzingis was 11-of-22 from the field and is averaging 20.1 ppg, 8.3 rpg and 2.6 bpg. . .Tim Hardaway Jr. had 14 points against the Knicks and averages 10.9 ppg. . .The Mavs are 65-29 all-time against the Grizzlies, including a 30-17 record in Memphis. . .The Grizzlies won the season series over the Mavs last year, 3-1. . .The Mavs are a perfect 3-0 on the road this season.
About the Grizzlies: Like the Mavs, the Grizzlies will also be playing tonight’s game on the last end of a back-to-back. Memphis lost in Orlando on Friday, 118-86. It was the fewest points the Grizzlies have scored in a game this season. Memphis shot just 37.2 percent from the field against Orlando. The Magic only led Memphis, 84-78, after the third quarter, but outscored the Grizzlies in the fourth, 34-8. Memphis was just 3-of-23 from the field in the fourth quarter. . .The Grizzlies went into Friday’s game leading the NBA in points in the paint at 57.7 per game, but only scored 34 points in the paint against Orlando. Jonas Valanciunas led the Grizzlies against the Magic with 15 points and nine rebounds. . .Rookie point guard Ja Morant, the No. 2 overall pick in June’s NBA Draft, leads the Grizzlies overall at 18.9 ppg and 5.5 apg. Shooting guard Dillon Brooks averages 13.6 ppg, Valanciunas is averaging 11.9 ppg and 9.5 rpg, rookie power forward Brandon Clarke averages 11.5 ppg and 6.4 rpg, and Jaren Jackson Jr. is averaging 11.4 ppg and 5.1 rpg. . .The Grizzlies have the third-worst record in the West at 2-6. . .The Grizzlies are averaging 107 ppg and allowing 117.9 ppg. Their -10.9 ppg point differential is the worst in the entire NBA. . .Memphis is 2-3 at home. Former Mavs forward Jae Crowder nailed a 3-pointer at the buzzer to give the Grizzlies a wild 134-133 victory in overtime over Brooklyn on Oct. 27. The Grizzlies also secured a 137-121 home victory against Minnesota this past Wednesday.
Twitter: @DwainPrice
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