Mavericks Grizzlies The Dallas Mavericks easily defeated Ja Morant’s Memphis Grizzlies at home on Saturday thanks to an outstanding first quarter from Slovenian Luka Doncic, who finished with a double-double of 32 points and 10 assists.
The Golden State Warriors eliminated the Mavericks and Grizzlies from the playoffs last year, and both teams entered this clash at different points in the season. The Memphis Suns won their two games played while the Texans lost their inaugural game to the Phoenix Suns.
Doncic finished the game with 32 points, 7 rebounds, 10 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks after scoring 21 points in the opening frame. They supported Tim Hardaway, who had 16 points, 2 rebounds, and 2 assists, Slovenian Christian Wood, who had 25 points, 12 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 blocks, and Spencer Dinwiddie, who had 15 points, 2 rebounds, and 2 assists.
Ja Morant, who had previously scored 49 points against the Rockets in Houston on Friday (122-129) and 34 points against the Knicks in his season debut in New York on Wednesday (112-115), finished with 30 points, 1 rebound, 4 assists, and 1 steal for the visitors.
Desmond Bane (14 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, and a steal), David Roddy (12 points, 3 rebounds, and 1 assist), and Tyus Jones all made contributions for the Grizzlies (10 points, 5 assists, 1 steal and 1 block).
Santi Aldama, a starter once more from Spain, finished with 8 points and 6 rebounds.
Dillon Brooks, Danny Green, Jaren Jackson, and Ziaire Williams were hurt for the Grizzlies, while Davis Bertans, Frank Ntilikina, and Facundo Campazzo from Argentina were unavailable for the Mavericks.
Doncic makes a choice in the opening frame.
As soon as the game started, Dondic started to put on a display, and in less than two minutes of action, he had scored nine points for the Dallas side and four for the Memphis squad (9-4).
For the Grizzlies, Santi Aldama got the game going, but coach Taylor Jenkins pulled him after three minutes of action until the second quarter.
Midway through the first quarter, the home team’s advantage was solidified with an impressive “alley-oop” slam from Javale McGee that Doncic converted into a layup, another tackle from the Slovenian, and a dunk from Spencer Dinwiddie (14-4).
The former Madrid player scored another fantasy goal by turning around and shooting backward shortly after a triple (20-6), followed by tracing the two plays with the same assurance and assisting his teammates when he did not score, bringing his total of personal goals and assists to 21 just over three minutes before the first half’s end (29-8), which resulted in a 39-17 victory.
Alabama works to prevent catastrophe
The Grizzlies made an effort to avert the disaster in the second quarter by taking advantage of Doncic’s time sitting on the bench with triples from the canary Aldama, back on the court, and Bane, as well as an entry by Morant, who returned to the game after a lengthy stretch of mistaken minutes (49-30).
By grabbing five rebounds in the first half (64-36), Aldama helped his side escape additional humiliation. At the start of the third quarter, he hit three of three free throws, and shortly after that, he hung from the rim on the run to counter a slam from Doncic (73-46).
Four minutes from the conclusion of the third session, it initially appeared as though the locals would win easily. However, strong kills by Dorian Finney-Smith and Christian Wood, as well as a triple by Reggie Bullock, clinched the outcome (88-57).
Tim Hardaway’s three-pointer that signalled the conclusion of the third period 99-71 was assisted by Doncic, who had 31 points and 10 assists overall.
