MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Ja Morant shrugged off a sprained right ankle to score 22 points and add nine assists and the Memphis Grizzlies beat the Dallas Mavericks 120-106 on Friday night to advance to the NBA playoffs.
Memphis secured the Western Conference’s eighth seed and will open against top-seeded Oklahoma City in a best-of-seven series beginning Sunday on the Thunder’s home court.
Click to Gallery
Dallas Mavericks guard Klay Thompson (31) shoots the ball past Memphis Grizzlies forward Santi Aldama, left, during the second half of an NBA play-in tournament basketball game Friday, April 18, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Dallas Mavericks guard Klay Thompson, right, hugs Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant after an NBA play-in tournament basketball game Friday, April 18, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Dallas Mavericks forward Anthony Davis (3) walks off the court after the team's loss in an NBA play-in tournament basketball game against the Memphis Grizzlies, Friday, April 18, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) celebrates the team's win after an NBA play-in tournament basketball game against the Dallas Mavericks, Friday, April 18, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaren Jackson Jr. (13) celebrates the team's win after an NBA play-in tournament basketball game against the Dallas Mavericks, Friday, April 18, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Dallas Mavericks forward Caleb Martin, left, and Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant, right, collide during the second half of an NBA play-in tournament basketball game Friday, April 18, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) and guard Desmond Bane (22) celebrate late in the second half of an NBA play-in tournament basketball game against the Dallas Mavericks, Friday, April 18, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant celebrates during the second half of an NBA play-in tournament basketball game against the Dallas Mavericks, Friday, April 18, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Dallas Mavericks guard Brandon Williams (10) dribbles the ball past Memphis Grizzlies guard Scotty Pippen Jr. (1) during the second half of an NBA play-in tournament basketball game Friday, April 18, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Memphis Grizzlies center Zach Edey (14) blocks a shot by Dallas Mavericks forward Anthony Davis (3) during the second half of an NBA play-in tournament basketball game Friday, April 18, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Dallas Mavericks forward Anthony Davis, right, dunks the ball past Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) during the second half of an NBA play-in tournament basketball game Friday, April 18, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Memphis Grizzlies center Zach Edey (14) dunks the ball during the second half of an NBA play-in tournament basketball game against the Dallas Mavericks, Friday, April 18, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Dallas Mavericks forward Naji Marshall (13) dribbles the ball past Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant, right, during the second half of an NBA play-in tournament basketball game Friday, April 18, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Memphis Grizzlies interim head coach Tuomas Iisalo yells during the second half of an NBA play-in tournament basketball game against the Dallas Mavericks, Friday, April 18, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd yells to his players during the first half of an NBA play-in tournament basketball game against the Memphis Grizzlies, Friday, April 18, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) shoots the ball past Dallas Mavericks center Dereck Lively II (2) and forward Naji Marshall, right, during the first half of an NBA play-in tournament basketball game Friday, April 18, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) passes the ball over Dallas Mavericks forward Naji Marshall (13) during the first half of an NBA play-in tournament basketball game Friday, April 18, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) dunks the ball during the first half of an NBA play-in tournament basketball game against the Dallas Mavericks, Friday, April 18, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) shoots the ball past Dallas Mavericks forward Caleb Martin (16) and center Daniel Gafford (21) during the first half of an NBA play-in tournament basketball game Friday, April 18, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Memphis Grizzlies guard Desmond Bane, center, shoots the ball past Dallas Mavericks defenders during the first half of an NBA play-in tournament basketball game Friday, April 18, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Dallas Mavericks forward P.J. Washington (25) shoots the ball over Memphis Grizzlies center Zach Edey (14) during the first half of an NBA play-in tournament basketball game Friday, April 18, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Memphis Grizzlies guard Desmond Bane (22) battles Dallas Mavericks forward P.J. Washington (25) for a loose ball during the first half of an NBA play-in tournament basketball game Friday, April 18, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) celebrates during the first half of an NBA play-in tournament basketball game against the Dallas Mavericks, Friday, April 18, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12)- passes the ball around Dallas Mavericks forward Caleb Martin, right, during the first half of an NBA play-in tournament basketball game Friday, April 18, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Morant was injured Tuesday night at Golden State in the Grizzlies' play-in opener and was questionable to play Friday.
“The doctors gave me all the help I needed in the simplest terms,” said Morant, whose availability wasn't certain until about 30 minutes before tipoff. “I wanted to be on the floor. I wanted to play this game and get the win.”
Jaren Jackson Jr. led Memphis with 24 points, and Desmond Bane had 22.
Anthony Davis led Dallas with 40 points and nine nine rebounds. Klay Thompson had 18 points.
Davis limped off in the fourth quarter with what appeared to be 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 the leg. Davis said he tried to fight through the injury, knowing it was a win-or-go-home situation.
“We had our chances. Obviously, a tough loss,” Davis said.
Memphis saw a 25-point first-half lead melting away in the third quarter as the Mavericks crafted a 27-12 run spanning halftime. That brought the Mavericks' deficit to single digits midway through the third.
The Grizzlies stretched the lead back to 96-80 heading into the final quarter and Dallas never threatened the rest of the way.
Dallas, which beat Sacramento 120-106 on Wednesday night to earn a spot against the Grizzlies, didn’t seem to have the same spark to start the game, never leading against Memphis.
Zach Edey had 15 points and 11 rebounds for Memphis, and Scotty Pippen Jr. scored 13 points.
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.
“A series is a series,” Jackson said. “You've got to stay level-headed. Whether you win a game or lose a game, it really doesn't matter until it's over.”
Like Memphis, the Mavericks limped into the end of the season, going 7-15 since March 1. In the midst of it, they also lost Kyrie Irving to left knee surgery after dealing with a trade that brought Davis to Dallas and sent Luka Doncic to the Lakers.
“An incredible season, but the change (trading Doncic for AD) and injuries, some would say we shouldn’t even be there,” Mavericks coach Jason Kidd said. "So give those guys in that locker room a lot of credit.”
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba
Dallas Mavericks guard Klay Thompson (31) shoots the ball past Memphis Grizzlies forward Santi Aldama, left, during the second half of an NBA play-in tournament basketball game Friday, April 18, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Dallas Mavericks guard Klay Thompson, right, hugs Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant after an NBA play-in tournament basketball game Friday, April 18, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Dallas Mavericks forward Anthony Davis (3) walks off the court after the team's loss in an NBA play-in tournament basketball game against the Memphis Grizzlies, Friday, April 18, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) celebrates the team's win after an NBA play-in tournament basketball game against the Dallas Mavericks, Friday, April 18, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaren Jackson Jr. (13) celebrates the team's win after an NBA play-in tournament basketball game against the Dallas Mavericks, Friday, April 18, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Dallas Mavericks forward Caleb Martin, left, and Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant, right, collide during the second half of an NBA play-in tournament basketball game Friday, April 18, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) and guard Desmond Bane (22) celebrate late in the second half of an NBA play-in tournament basketball game against the Dallas Mavericks, Friday, April 18, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant celebrates during the second half of an NBA play-in tournament basketball game against the Dallas Mavericks, Friday, April 18, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Dallas Mavericks guard Brandon Williams (10) dribbles the ball past Memphis Grizzlies guard Scotty Pippen Jr. (1) during the second half of an NBA play-in tournament basketball game Friday, April 18, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Memphis Grizzlies center Zach Edey (14) blocks a shot by Dallas Mavericks forward Anthony Davis (3) during the second half of an NBA play-in tournament basketball game Friday, April 18, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Dallas Mavericks forward Anthony Davis, right, dunks the ball past Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) during the second half of an NBA play-in tournament basketball game Friday, April 18, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Memphis Grizzlies center Zach Edey (14) dunks the ball during the second half of an NBA play-in tournament basketball game against the Dallas Mavericks, Friday, April 18, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Dallas Mavericks forward Naji Marshall (13) dribbles the ball past Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant, right, during the second half of an NBA play-in tournament basketball game Friday, April 18, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Memphis Grizzlies interim head coach Tuomas Iisalo yells during the second half of an NBA play-in tournament basketball game against the Dallas Mavericks, Friday, April 18, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd yells to his players during the first half of an NBA play-in tournament basketball game against the Memphis Grizzlies, Friday, April 18, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) shoots the ball past Dallas Mavericks center Dereck Lively II (2) and forward Naji Marshall, right, during the first half of an NBA play-in tournament basketball game Friday, April 18, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) passes the ball over Dallas Mavericks forward Naji Marshall (13) during the first half of an NBA play-in tournament basketball game Friday, April 18, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) dunks the ball during the first half of an NBA play-in tournament basketball game against the Dallas Mavericks, Friday, April 18, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) shoots the ball past Dallas Mavericks forward Caleb Martin (16) and center Daniel Gafford (21) during the first half of an NBA play-in tournament basketball game Friday, April 18, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Memphis Grizzlies guard Desmond Bane, center, shoots the ball past Dallas Mavericks defenders during the first half of an NBA play-in tournament basketball game Friday, April 18, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Dallas Mavericks forward P.J. Washington (25) shoots the ball over Memphis Grizzlies center Zach Edey (14) during the first half of an NBA play-in tournament basketball game Friday, April 18, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Memphis Grizzlies guard Desmond Bane (22) battles Dallas Mavericks forward P.J. Washington (25) for a loose ball during the first half of an NBA play-in tournament basketball game Friday, April 18, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) celebrates during the first half of an NBA play-in tournament basketball game against the Dallas Mavericks, Friday, April 18, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12)- passes the ball around Dallas Mavericks forward Caleb Martin, right, during the first half of an NBA play-in tournament basketball game Friday, April 18, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
