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The NBA hits full throttle as the remaining Play-in Tournament games are underway to determine the final set of teams to enter the NBA playoffs! There’s a boatload of action for basketball fans, so get ready as we head into the prestigious Round 1 of the NBA Playoffs this weekend.
Take heed to our picks for tonight’s Memphis Grizzlies vs Dallas Mavericks showdown and decide whether it’s something you want to back or ignore!
It’s do-or-die for the Grizzlies tomorrow night, as a loss will take away their chances of progressing to the playoffs. Memphis went 4-6 in the last 10 games of the regular season and just fell to the mighty Golden State Warriors for the chance to win the No. 7 seed. The last time the Mavericks and Grizzlies met was on April 10, concluding with a comfortable 132-97 victory for Memphis, lifting spirits for the team entering Friday’s game. However, it’s worth noting that Dallas star Anthony Davis didn’t play.
Despite Grizzlies guard Ja Morant hitting a stride against the Warriors with 36 points and 6 assists in his last game, he suffered an ankle injury but continued to play the rest of the game. A tentative play status (we think he will still play) could prove troubling for the entire Grizzlies squad. Regardless, forward Jaren Jackson Jr. (22 points against the Warriors) and guard Desmond Bane (19 points against GSW) will need to play at their best and continue their trend of 22.2 points and 19.2 points per game. Stanti Aldama can’t be counted out either, putting up 12.5 points and 6.4 rebounds per game and could be a key player for dishing out a Memphis victory.
The Mavericks stood tall with their first Play-in Tournament victory against the Kings, meaning another win will put them through to the NBA playoffs. However, Dallas posted a 1-4 record in their final five regular season games and went 4-6 in the last 10 regular season contests. Although they struggled down the stretch, they put everything together against Sacramento.
Mavericks forward Anthony Davis had a spectacular game against the Kings, putting up 27 points and 9 rebounds, and he continues to improve on his 20.0 points and 10.1 rebounds per game since joining Dallas. We fully expect Davis to be a force on the boards tomorrow night. Davis received support from Klay Thompson, who put up 23 points, 2 assists and 5 rebounds against the Kings. Both Klay Thompson (14.0 points and 3.4 rebounds per game) and forward Naji Marshall (13.2 points and 4.8 rebounds per game) will need to step up once again and continue their versatile playstyle to have any hopes of defeating a tough Grizzlies squad.
It’s anyone’s game for the taking tonight, as a loss for either side ends their respective seasons. While the Grizzlies are coming straight off a detrimental loss to the Warriors, they’ll most likely have fighting spirits tonight, especially considering they were still able to put up 116 points. Ja Morant’s status will be important to monitor, as he could be the deciding factor for the Grizzlies.
Despite Dallas getting crushed 132-97 in the season finale, I expect Friday’s game to be much closer. A key for Memphis in that win was the fact they outrebounded the Mavs 53-38. If Anthony Davis can get rebounds for his team and put up as many points as he did last game along with the help of Thompson and Marshall, the Mavericks could steal a narrow win to move on to the NBA playoffs.
Liam has been a major sports fan and soccer player for over a decade, with a particular focus on major top-level soccer leagues, including the EPL, La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga and MLS. He has written numerous promotional articles for various top sportsbooks and continues to publish historical and factual sports articles covering the NFL, MLS, NHL, MLB, EPL and more.