One of the most disastrous seasons in the Mavericks’ 45-year history is over.
Dallas entered the season with championship hopes but has missed the playoffs entirely. Three days after general manager Nico Harrison repeatedly said “defense wins championships” as his rationale for trading Luka Dončić, the Mavericks’ defense looked porous in a win-or-go-home game.
The Grizzlies scored 66 first-half points. Ja Morant, who was questionable after landing awkwardly on his right ankle Tuesday, lived in the lane early on. Morant scored 22 points and handed out nine assists.
The Mavericks were able to beat up the Sacramento Kings inside Wednesday. On Friday, it was a different story against a bigger Grizzlies team. Memphis, which starts Jaren Jackson Jr. and Zach Edey in its frontcourt, outscored Dallas 60-44 in points in the paint.
The Mavericks trailed by as many as 25 points. They cut the Grizzlies’ lead to seven points in the third quarter, but that was as close as they got to threatening.
Anthony Davis appeared to be in discomfort for most of the game, but he still scored 40 points. He didn’t get much help on offense from his teammates. P.J. Washington and Dereck Lively II both went scoreless.
The Mavericks were 19-10 with the NBA’s No. 4 offense and No. 11 defense going into their Christmas game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Then, Dončić strained his left calf, and everything changed for Dallas, which has a long offseason ahead of it.
