The Memphis Grizzlies are in a tough spot, dropping their sixth game in a row as the Dallas Mavericks secured a 120-112 win, narrowly avoiding a season sweep.
Now, let's break it down.
For Memphis, this loss stings, but at least they didn't let a big lead slip away this time. The Mavericks were in control for most of the game, with the Grizzlies managing to tie things up once in the third quarter. That's when Kris Middleton decided to take over, delivering a performance that left no room for a Grizzlies comeback.
After Memphis tied it up with just over a minute left in the third, Middleton went on a personal scoring spree, racking up 11 straight points. He dropped 22 in the fourth quarter alone, the highest any player has scored against the Grizzlies in a single quarter this season, outscoring Memphis 22-20 by himself in the final minutes.
Middleton was unstoppable, leading all scorers with 35 points off the bench, outdoing the entire Grizzlies' bench, which managed just 28 points.
The game started rough for Memphis, with Dallas jumping out to a 15-point lead in the first quarter. The Grizzlies tried to chip away, closing the gap to 11 by halftime.
Despite committing fewer turnovers than Dallas - 10 compared to the Mavericks' 20 - Memphis couldn't capitalize, allowing Dallas to score 29 points off turnovers while only managing 13 themselves. It's a pattern that's been haunting the Grizzlies this season.
Here's a look at the standout performances:
- Jaylen Wells led the Grizzlies with 23 points, adding two rebounds, two assists, two steals, and a block.
- GG Jackson contributed 20 points, four rebounds, three assists, and a block.
- Javon Small chipped in 19 points, grabbed two rebounds, dished out a career-high nine assists, and snagged a steal.
- Rayan Rupert added 13 points, seven rebounds, three assists, and a steal.
- Taylor Henricks led the bench with a solid 17 points, 10 rebounds, one assist, a steal, and two blocks.
The Grizzlies are set to face the Pistons in Detroit next, with tip-off at 6:30 CDT. Let's see if they can turn things around.