Desmond Bane pours in 32 as Grizzlies take down Mavericks
Desmond Bane collected 32 points and nine rebounds to lift the visiting Memphis Grizzlies to a 120-103 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday.
Marcus Smart scored 23 points before exiting in the third quarter after dislocating a finger on his right hand. The undermanned Grizzlies played without stars Jaren Jackson Jr. (knee) and Ja Morant (season-ending shoulder injury).
Xavier Tillman recorded 14 points and 11 rebounds to help Memphis complete a sweep of its three-game road trip. Luke Kennard and Ziaire Williams each scored 14 points and David Roddy added 11 in the win.
The Grizzlies shot 48.4 percent from the floor (44 of 91) and 37.8 percent from 3-point range (14 of 37). Memphis owned a 54-33 edge in rebounds — including 18-8 on the offensive glass — to help salvage a split of the four-game season series.
Kyrie Irving contributed 33 points, eight rebounds and four steals and Luka Doncic added 31 points for the Mavericks, who fell to 3-1 on their season-high seven-game homestand. The pair combined to make just 4 of 15 attempts from 3-point range.
Vince Williams Jr. drained a 3-pointer to stake Memphis to a 56-34 lead with 4:47 remaining in the second quarter. Doncic ignited a spark by converting a three-point play and a sinking a 3-pointer, and Tim Hardaway Jr. and Irving also connected from beyond the arc to trim the Grizzlies’ lead to 71-60 early in the third quarter.
Jaden Hardy’s emphatic dunk pulled Dallas within 10 at 85-75, however, Bane drilled a pair of 3-pointers and added two layups and two free throws to give Memphis a 103-83 lead at the end of the third quarter.
Doncic made a pair of layups and two free throws to bring the Mavericks within 13 with 6:40 remaining in the fourth quarter. John Konchar halted the momentum with a layup and Ziaire Williams drained a 3-pointer to provide some more breathing room.
