Memphis secured a win over the Mavs

The Memphis Grizzlies defeated the Dallas Mavericks 120-106 on Friday night as Ja Morant returned from a sprained right ankle to score 22 points and add nine assists.   It was questionable whether Morant would play Friday after being injured Tuesday night in the Grizzlies' play-in game against Golden State.   A Memphis Grit and Gind style game was played by him.

Memphis secured the Western Conference's eighth seed with a massive victory.  They will open against Oklahoma City in a best-of-seven series beginning Sunday in OKC. Jaren Jackson Jr. led Memphis with 24 points, and Desmond Bane had 22. The young guns of the crew chipped in as well as Zach Edey had 15 points and 11 rebounds for Memphis, and Scotty Pippen Jr. scored 13 points.

Anthony Davis led Dallas with a huge 40 point and nine rebounds performance.  Klay Thompson had 18 points. Davis limped off in the fourth quarter with a right calf injury. He returned briefly, but didn’t finish the game. He sat in the locker room after the game with a wrap and an ice bag on his leg. Davis said he tried to fight through the injury, knowing it was a win-or-go-home situation. But couldn't   do it.

Memphis lost all four games against Oklahoma City during the regular season, all by double digits. Jackson said the Grizzlies are looking at a different situation in the first round.  Oklahoma City boasts a powerful lineup, featuring a dynamic backcourt that excels in both scoring and playmaking. Their defense is particularly strong, with a focus on shutting down the opponent's key players and forcing turnovers. Additionally, their depth allows them to maintain high energy and pressure throughout the game, making them a formidable opponent in the series.

This should be a fast-paced and exciting series with all these young league stars on the floor, and it will be interesting to see how the Grizzlies adjust their strategy to counter Oklahoma City's strengths. With both teams hungry for a win, this matchup promises to be a thrilling display of skill, determination, and teamwork.