Luka, Kristaps Lead Dallas Mavericks Past Grizzlies 104-91 At AAC
DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM/AP) — Despite neck pain, Luka Doncic had 37 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists and Kristaps Porzingis had 15 points, eight rebounds and a season-best six blocks as the Dallas Mavericks shut down the Memphis Grizzlies to win 104-91 on Sunday night.
The Mavericks never trailed and led by as many as 22 points in winning for the 11th time in their last 13 games. They took the season series 3-1 and pulled within four games of the Southwest Division-leading Grizzlies.
They also held Memphis to within six points of its lowest scoring total — which came in Dallas' 112-85 road win on January 14 that snapped the Grizzlies' franchise-best 11-game winning streak.
"Everybody's involved," Doncic said of the Mavericks' defense, which went into the game third in the NBA allowing 102.8 points per game. "Everybody's helping each other. That's what we've got to do."
Ja Morant had 35 points and 13 rebounds for the Grizzlies, going 14 for 31 from the floor while the rest of the team shot 23 for 68 (33.8%). They shot a season-worst 16.7% on 3-pointers (4 for 24).
"We couldn't make a shot tonight," Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins said. "Our defense was there. Just our offense couldn't get it done."
Doncic wore elastic therapeutic tape on his neck after taking a hard fall late in Dallas' loss to Phoenix on Thursday, and often wore a heat pack around his waist while on the bench.
"My neck's pretty stiff," said Doncic, who then showed how he struggles to turn his head. "With the therapy, it's going to get better."
The Mavericks had a season-high 12 blocks, four more than their previous high, after averaging 3.8 per game coming in. Porzingis fouled out with 6:43 to play, but his six blocks were one short of his career best.
"We know if we don't come and play with that toughness that they're going to get us out of the gym," Dorian Finney-Smith said.
Memphis saw a series of season-worsts in the first half: lowest scoring (34 points), poorest shooting (28%) and worst behind the 3-point line (14.3% on 2 for 14). It was also the lowest-scoring opening half for a Dallas opponent this season.
(© Copyright 2022 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
