DALLAS, TEXAS — The Dallas Mavericks (34-35) fall below .500 after losing to the Memphis Grizzlies (41-26) 104-88. This was Dallas’s third straight loss and they fall to 34-35 and are under .500 for the first time since December. This game was without all the key starters for both teams; Luka Dončic and Kyrie Irving for the Mavericks and Ja Morant for the Grizzlies.
Dallas held their own through the entire first half going into the locker room 50-49. Rookie Jaden Hardy took control of this game in the absence of Doncic and Irving. He had 16 points in the first quarter and ended the night with 25 points, leading scorer for the Mavericks.
The Grizzlies started to pull away in the third quarter after outscoring Dallas 36-21 and Memphis took it home in the fourth. The Grizzlies took a 15-point lead and the rest was history for Dallas on Monday night in American Airlines Center.
Rookie Jaden Hardy led all scorers tonight with 28 points, eight rebounds, three assists. Josh Green added 23 points, five rebounds, and seven assists.
Head Coach Jason Kidd told us after the game that Hardy is young but has shown that he is coachable and he’s worked extremely hard and it’s showing in his play.
Dallas will head to Sann Antonio to play the Spurs on Wednesday night. Tip off is at 7:30 PM.
