Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (77) reacts during the fourth quarter against the Memphis Grizzlies at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
The Dallas Mavericks overcame a 15-point, fourth-quarter deficit to beat the visiting Memphis Grizzlies 121-116 in the NBA Cup on Tuesday behind Luka Doncic’s 37 points and 12 rebounds and Dereck Lively III’s 17 points and 11 rebounds.
The Grizzlies and Mavericks were playing in their final game of the NBA Cup group stage. With the win, Dallas finished 3-1 in West Group C, made the quarterfinals as the wild-card team and will play at Oklahoma City on Tuesday. Memphis wound up 1-3 and was eliminated.
The Mavericks, who have won five in a row and nine of their past 10, also got 18 points, eight rebounds and seven assists from P.J. Washington and key back-to-back 3-pointers in the closing minutes from Spencer Dinwiddie, who finished with 16 points. Dinwiddie’s 3-pointer with 1:40 left gave the Mavs a 113-111 lead. He added a 3-pointer on the ensuing possession.
READ: NBA: Luka Doncic returns as Mavericks pound Pelicans
Ja Morant had a season-high 31 points for the Grizzlies, who had their season-best six-game win streak snapped. Desmond Bane added 19 for Memphis and Jaren Jackson Jr. scored 16 with seven boards. Santi Aldama came off the bench to add 15 points and eight rebounds.
Luka Doncic (37 PTS) and Ja Morant (31 PTS) figured in an epic matchup that saw the Dallas Mavericks win their 5th straight 🍿#NBAPhilippines #NBAHighlights #EmiratesNBACup pic.twitter.com/m4gQPiUdcF
— NBA Philippines (@NBA_Philippines) December 4, 2024
Dallas made 18 of 26 free throws in the final quarter as the Mavericks recorded their biggest comeback victory of the season.
Memphis trailed by three at the half, then scored the first 10 points of the third quarter to lead by seven. The Grizzlies extended their lead to 13 late in the quarter taking advantage of 10 Dallas turnovers in the period. Morant had 11 points in the quarter, including four in the closing eight seconds as Memphis took a 95-82 lead into the fourth. The Grizzlies outscored Dallas 38-22 in the quarter.
READ: NBA: Luka Doncic scores 27 as Mavericks pull away from Bulls
The Mavericks led for most of the opening half and built a 10-point advantage (48-38) midway through the second quarter after Doncic scored on a leaner from the free-throw line and made the and-one. Doncic had 24 points at the half, including four 3-pointers.
Memphis was up by one (26-25) entering the second quarter, but only led briefly later in the quarter after a 12-0 run gave the Grizzlies a 50-48 advantage. Jaylen Wells capped the run with a 3-pointer, but Dallas closed strong and led 60-57 at the break.
Morant was limited to five points in the opening half. Jackson Jr. paced the Grizzlies with 14 first-half points. –Field Level Media