MEMPHIS – The Mavericks will probably never have another fourth quarter like the one they had Monday night at FedEx Forum.
During the final 12 minutes of the disappointing 112-108 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies, the Mavs had one of those quarters they would rather soon forget. They scored only 12 points, were just 3-of-21 from the field and gave up 29 points.
Rookie guard Jaden Hardy scored all three of the fourth-quarter field goals the Mavs collected. And he also got hurt and left for good with five minutes remaining in the game and the Mavs’ once 16-point lead on the verge of going up in flames.
Other than Hardy, the rest of the Mavs missed all 16 of their field goals in the fourth quarter. Even Kyrie Irving, who leads the NBA in fourth-quarter scoring, lost his magic touch as he went scoreless in the final quarter while missing all eight of his field goal attempts.
In a word, nothing worked in the fourth quarter for the Mavs. It was almost if they stole a scene from the old Space Jam movie – because they were almost totally powerless.
“We just misfired on offense,” coach Jason Kidd said. “We had some mismatches that we didn’t take advantage of.
“So when we go back and look at this for everyone, we’re going to see it and we’re going to get better from it.”
The unconventional fourth quarter from the Mavs left them 36-36 on the season going into Wednesday’s crucial showdown against the Golden State Warriors (37-36) at America Airlines Center.
Meanwhile, as all of the other Mavs were shooting blanks in the fourth quarter, Hardy was locked in a zone. Until he injured his foot.
“I mean, he’s always ready,” center Christian Wood said. “If you ever like really watch him play, he goes games without playing, and then he comes in and he just goes on a scoring outburst.
“I think (the stat sheet) says he had 18 minutes. And 20 points is great, especially coming from a rookie. Down the stretch we’re going to need him, just like we’re going to need everybody else to step up.”
Here are the three takeaways from the four-point loss to the Grizzlies.
IRVING’S UNUSUAL GAME: Kyrie Irving was setting the nets on fire Monday. Through three quarters he was 10-of-16 from the field and had 28 points. Through four quarters, Irving was 10-of-24 from the floor and had 28 points. In other words, Irving went scoreless during a fourth quarter that saw him miss all eight of his field goal attempts. He also re-aggravated his sore right foot.
A HARDY GOOD TIME: The Mavs’ bucket-getter, Jaden Hardy, had a hearty good time Monday – until he injured his foot. In the fourth quarter it seemed as though Hardy made every key basket that got on the board for the Mavs. That’s because he actually did make the only three field goals the Mavs converted – in 21 attempts – in the final quarter. But when Hardy departed the game for good with five minutes left, he unfortunately took the Mavs’ offense with him.
REBOUNDS AND SECOND-CHANCE POINTS: If the Mavs would have kept the rebound battle close and also gotten their fair share of second-chance points, they would have handed the Grizzlies just their sixth home loss of the season. However, Memphis was able to enjoy a 50-37 advantage on the boards over the Mavs. The Grizzlies also outscored the Mavs in second-chance points, 22-6.
Twitter: @DwainPrice
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