Mavs clamp down on Grizzlies en route to win

Tim Hardaway Jr. #11 of the Dallas Mavericks reacts after scoring against the Memphis Grizzlies in the second half at American Airlines Center on February 22, 2021 in Dallas, Texas. Tom Pennington/Getty Images/AFP

Tim Hardaway scored a team-high 29 points as the Dallas Mavericks delivered one of their best defensive games of the season, by limiting the Memphis Grizzlies to just 39 percent shooting on Monday.

Luka Doncic scored 21 points and Jalen Brunson chipped in 19 as the Mavericks returned from an unexpected eight-day break to post a 103-92 victory at the American Airlines Center.

The Mavericks had not played since February 14 after a devastating winter storm wreaked havoc on the Dallas area and forced two postponements.

The 🔑 to the W: our will and edge 💪@J_Rich1 | #MFFL pic.twitter.com/ovHcMBThxB

— Dallas Mavericks (@dallasmavs) February 23, 2021

Brunson scored 17 points as Dallas won its fifth game in the last six.

The Mavs came out quickly, compiling a double-digit lead in the first half of the opening quarter, and cruised from there.

Ja Morant had 22 points and a game-high nine assists for the Grizzlies, who suffered their second straight loss and were held to their second-lowest season point total. The Grizzlies scored just two more points than they scored in a loss to Cleveland last month.

Desmond Bane finished with 12 points, Brandon Clarke and Jonas Valanciunas 11 apiece and Tyus Jones 10 for Memphis. Valanciunas also grabbed 15 rebounds to complete a double-double.