Dallas Mavericks will be hosting Memphis Grizzlies on Friday night in a game that will reflect how fast things can be.
Grizzlies spent most of the past two months second in the Western conference behind the Runaway leader Oklahoma City. But they enter the game against Mavericks in a free fall.
Grizzlies has lost four straight and lost seven of its last nine, including Wednesday’s flea 120-103 home loss to the thunderstorm. Memphis got only 48 points during the second half and fought beyond the arch throughout and finished 9-for-34.
Memphis played without all-star Jaren Jackson Jr., who is on the side with a left ankle. Twice the All-Star guard Ja Morant started against Thunder and had 24 points and six assists, but said afterwards that he should have rested because of a right shoulder injury.
“I should have been out, but I was out there,” Morant said. “Regardless, outside or in, it will be something said. I think I just said I probably (shouldn’t have) have played, but I did.”
While frustration has set for grizzlies – regarded as NBA title challenger with a core of Jackson, Morant and Desmond Bane – despair has found a home in Dallas.
Mavericks has lost five of his last six and remains slightly above .500 (32-31). Their struggle began shortly after superstar Luke Doncic was traded in early February to the Los Angeles Lakers in a deal that brought Big Man Anthony Davis to Dallas.
Davis got an adductor tribe in his first game with Mavericks on February 8 and has not played since then. On Monday, nine-hour all-star guard Kyrie Irving ACL struck in her left knee in a loss to Sacramento Kings and ended his season.
“I mean, this is a new territory for everyone,” said Dallas coach Jason Kidd. “Many have not seen this. But again it is the next man and we have ended the next (men).”
Irving had been the only player in the league on average at least 20 points (24.7), while he shot 40 percent or better from 3-points (40.1) and 90 percent or better from the free throw line (91.6).
With Irving out, teammate Kyy Thompson tried to pick up the slack against Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday. He took 27 shots and said he was aggressive in a difficult environment. He scored 11 and led the team with 28 points in a defeat of 137-107.
Mavericks is also without Daniel Gafford (MCL), Dereck Lively II (right ankle) and Caleb Martin (hip). They had only eight players available on Wednesday.
“We’re human,” Thompson said. “It’s very difficult and you have to find joy to play the game and play to each other. Your character is revealed during the toughest times. It’s easy to be high and powerful when you win games and you are doing well.
“But the real test of your character is when things are not going your way and you still show up and you are still playing hard, you are still looking for your teammates.”
Thompson called Irving’s injury a “intestinal punch” for not just Maverick’s fans, but NBA fans all over the world.
“Kyrie has been our rock this year,” Thompson said. “It’s like an incomplete void. We have to gather around him and play hard for him. The injured though. I know he will come back stronger but at the moment it (stinks).”
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