Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12)- passes the ball around Dallas Mavericks forward Caleb Martin, right, during the first half of an NBA play-in tournament basketball game Friday, April 18, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Grizzlies beat the Mavericks 120-106 to set up a 1st-round playoff series with the Thunder
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Ja Morant shrugged off a sprained right ankle to score 22 points and add nine assists and the Memphis Grizzlies beat the Dallas Mavericks 120-106 on Friday night to advance to the NBA playoffs.
Memphis secured the Western Conference’s eighth seed and will open against top-seeded Oklahoma City in a best-of-seven series beginning Sunday on the Thunder’s home court.
Morant was injured Tuesday night at Golden State in the Grizzlies’ play-in opener and was questionable to play Friday. Jaren Jackson Jr. led Memphis with 24 points, and Desmond Bane had 22.
Anthony Davis led Dallas with 40 points and nine nine rebounds. Klay Thompson had 18 points.
Davis limped off in the fourth quarter with what appeared to be a right calf injury. He returned briefly, but didn’t finish the game.
Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) celebrates during the first half of an NBA play-in tournament basketball game against the Dallas Mavericks, Friday, April 18, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Memphis saw a 25-point first-half lead melting away in the third quarter as the Maver crafted a 27-12 run spanning halftime. That brought the Mavericks’ deficit to single digits midway through the third.
The Grizzlies stretched the lead back to 96-80 heading into the final quarter and Dallas never threatened the rest of the way.
The Mavericks closed the first half with eight straight points to cut it to 66-49.
Davis had 22 in the half, while Morant had 16 points for Memphis.
Dallas, which beat Sacramento 120-106 on Wednesday night to earn a spot against the Grizzlies, didn’t seem to have the same spark to start the game, never leading against Memphis.
Memphis Grizzlies guard Desmond Bane (22) battles Dallas Mavericks forward P.J. Washington (25) for a loose ball during the first half of an NBA play-in tournament basketball game Friday, April 18, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Davis did his part to punch up the Dallas offensive attack, but Memphis countered with balanced scoring.
Zach Edey had 15 points and 11 rebounds for Memphis, and Scotty Pippen Jr. scored 13 points.
Dallas Mavericks forward P.J. Washington (25) shoots the ball over Memphis Grizzlies center Zach Edey (14) during the first half of an NBA play-in tournament basketball game Friday, April 18, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)Memphis Grizzlies guard Desmond Bane, center, shoots the ball past Dallas Mavericks defenders during the first half of an NBA play-in tournament basketball game Friday, April 18, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) shoots the ball past Dallas Mavericks forward Caleb Martin (16) and center Daniel Gafford (21) during the first half of an NBA play-in tournament basketball game Friday, April 18, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) dunks the ball during the first half of an NBA play-in tournament basketball game against the Dallas Mavericks, Friday, April 18, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) passes the ball over Dallas Mavericks forward Naji Marshall (13) during the first half of an NBA play-in tournament basketball game Friday, April 18, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) shoots the ball past Dallas Mavericks center Dereck Lively II (2) and forward Naji Marshall, right, during the first half of an NBA play-in tournament basketball game Friday, April 18, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd yells to his players during the first half of an NBA play-in tournament basketball game against the Memphis Grizzlies, Friday, April 18, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)Memphis Grizzlies interim head coach Tuomas Iisalo yells during the second half of an NBA play-in tournament basketball game against the Dallas Mavericks, Friday, April 18, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)Dallas Mavericks forward Naji Marshall (13) dribbles the ball past Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant, right, during the second half of an NBA play-in tournament basketball game Friday, April 18, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)Memphis Grizzlies center Zach Edey (14) dunks the ball during the second half of an NBA play-in tournament basketball game against the Dallas Mavericks, Friday, April 18, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)Dallas Mavericks forward Anthony Davis, right, dunks the ball past Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) during the second half of an NBA play-in tournament basketball game Friday, April 18, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)Memphis Grizzlies center Zach Edey (14) blocks a shot by Dallas Mavericks forward Anthony Davis (3) during the second half of an NBA play-in tournament basketball game Friday, April 18, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)Dallas Mavericks guard Brandon Williams (10) dribbles the ball past Memphis Grizzlies guard Scotty Pippen Jr. (1) during the second half of an NBA play-in tournament basketball game Friday, April 18, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
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