Mavericks Suffer Setback Against Grizzlies in NBA Cup

Dallas, Texas — The Dallas Mavericks continued their struggle in the NBA with a 118-104 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday, marking their fourth consecutive defeat and dropping their record to 2-7 this season.

The Mavericks fell behind early, trailing by as many as 35 points. Despite efforts to rally in the fourth quarter, they could only narrow the gap to 13 points. The night proved especially challenging for Dallas as they faced a Memphis team looking to recover from a four-game losing streak.

Mavericks star Anthony Davis remained sidelined with a left calf strain, missing his fourth game in a row. Coach Jason Kidd started D’Angelo Russell, hoping to ignite the team’s offense. However, Russell played just 16 minutes and struggled to contain Grizzlies guard Ja Morant, who tallied 21 points and 13 assists.

In addition to Morant, seven Grizzlies players scored in double digits. Rookie Cedric Coward contributed significantly off the bench, adding 21 points, nine rebounds, and four assists. Meanwhile, the Mavericks’ performance continued to falter, shooting just 10 for 39 from three-point range, with Max Christie being one of the few bright spots, scoring 18 points.

The Grizzlies took control early, leading 74-51 at halftime after a dominant second quarter where they outscored the Mavericks 40-27. The Mavericks’ defense, which has been labeled among the worst in the league, struggled to contain Memphis’ offense, notably allowing 74 points in the first half alone.

Despite brief moments of improvement in the second half, Dallas failed to mount a serious challenge to Memphis’s lead. Coach Kidd’s comments hinted at the urgency for positive changes moving forward with the upcoming game against the Washington Wizards on Saturday. Davis’s availability for the game remains uncertain, as does that of Daniel Gafford, who left the game with right ankle soreness.

As the Mavericks hope to turn their season around, pressure mounts on the team’s management, and frustration from fans is palpable, especially with the performance of veteran players.