Sports

Dallas Mavericks Fall Flat After Second Half Blowout By Memphis Losing 133-104

May 12, 2021 / 6:50 AM CDT / CBS Texas

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MEMPHIS, Tenn. (CBSDFW.COM/AP) — There are only three games left in the regular NBA season, but even after a loss (an ugly, ugly loss) Tuesday night the Dallas Mavericks still have a chance.

Ja Morant had 24 points, eight assists and seven rebounds as the Memphis Grizzlies used a third-quarter burst to beat the Mavs 133-104.

Dillon Brooks added 22 points and John Konchar had a season-high 18 for the Grizzlies. Kyle Anderson scored 15 points, including 10 in the key third quarter as Memphis continues to try and move up in the Western Conference standings. Konchar and Anderson both were 7 of 10 from the field, part of Memphis shooting 57.3%.

While both teams are in the postseason, they still can improve their seedings. Memphis, which earned a spot in the play-in tournament with Monday night's win over New Orleans, still has a chance to move up to eighth.

Tim Hardaway Jr. #11 of the Dallas Mavericks takes a shot against Xavier Tillman #2 of the Memphis Grizzlies during the second half on May 11, 2021 in Memphis, Tennessee. (credit: Justin Ford/Getty Images)

The Mavericks, who are on the cusp of claiming the sixth spot in the West, will have to wait before clinching a spot to avoid the Western Conference's play-in tournament.

"Obviously we didn't play well over the course of the 48 minutes," Dallas coach Rick Carlisle said.

Tim Hardaway Jr. led the Mavericks with 19 points, while Willie Cauley-Stein finished with a season-high 16 points. Jalen Brunson scored 15, while leading scorer Luka Doncic managed 12 points but was 4 of 16 from the floor and missed all four of his 3-point attempts.

"I wasn't myself," Doncic said. "We've got to bounce back, but that game was obviously one of the worst I've ever played. I've got to be better than that."

Memphis outscored the Mavericks 36-25 in the third quarter to take a 96-82 lead entering the fourth. Anderson keyed the rally hitting his first five shots in the quarter and Morant scored 11 in the frame.

That lead would swell to 104-82 with 10 minutes left and Carlisle pulled his starters, spelling the end of the Mavericks four-game winning streak.

"I think our starters set a really good tone in that third quarter," Memphis coach Taylor Jenkins said. "Our defense was big for us. It was a back-and-forth affair there (in the first half). We were able to get the stops we needed and got on a run (after halftime). The pace was big for us and just really good ball movement."

But Carlisle actually noted the first quarter as a turning point when Memphis erased an early eight-point Dallas lead.

"They got the momentum from there," the Dallas coach said. "We were never really able to get it back. Very disappointing loss."

Both teams were playing without key frontline players. Jonas Valanciunas sat out with a sore back for Memphis, while Jaren Jackson continued to take periodic games off under left knee surgery recovery.

Meanwhile, Kristaps Porzingis missed his seventh straight game for Dallas with right knee soreness.

Memphis' second-half burst helped the Grizzlies outscore Dallas in all four quarters.

"Our mindset tonight was to just play a full 48 minutes, which we try to do every night," Morant said.