Monday night’s 120-113 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies was crucial for the Dallas Mavericks. It was inconsequential that role players were falling like insects due to injury after injury prior to and throughout the Fedex Forum proceedings.
A month prior, the Mavericks suffered a disappointing loss to Memphis. In order to provide opportunities for players such as Kyrie Irving and Tim Hardaway Jr., who was a late scratch due to back spasms, to improve without negatively impacting the team’s win-loss record, the Mavericks needed to stack wins whenever feasible.
In order to lead Memphis to victory over Dallas, Luka Dončić supported the visitors as they performed his 1,000th career three-point attempt and acted as a professional wrestling villain in front of the Memphis crowd. Memphis was held at arm’s length down the stretch by the efforts of secondary players and Dereck Lively II, who excelled on both ends of the court.
The Grizzlies, who entered the contest ranked 29th in the NBA in 3-point shooting, took an early 9-4 lead with three consecutive made baskets.
An internal performance by Lively proved to be the remedy for the Mavericks’ initial ailment. Everything that went well for the Mavericks in the first six minutes of the game was due to Lively’s efforts. He assisted Derick Jones Jr. on a dunk off a forceful cut through the lane, scored on three vicious jams, and recorded a chase-down block that was likely a goal-thrower, but we’ll settle for that. With 7:40 remaining in the quarter, Lively thunderously converted a floater from Dante Exum, giving the Mavs their first lead, 10-9.
In the victory, Lively recorded 16 points, 16 rebounds, and a blocked shot. With 8-of-9 shooting from the floor, he tied for the league lead in field goal percentage (73.5%).
The Grizzlies had a problem with a capital “P” all night long in Jaren Jackson Jr.’s interior. In each instance where the Mavs attempted to extend their lead through consecutive defensive stops, Jackson would seize an offensive rebound, dominate the Mavericks’ frontcourt on a drive through the lane, and amass an additional goal on demand. He concluded with 41 points and four rebounds, falling just one bucket short of his career-high points total, with 21 points in the first half. This marked his second 30-point outing of the season against the Mavericks.
