The Dallas Mavericks’ postseason hopes came crashing down on Friday night in Memphis. They fell 120-106 to the Memphis Grizzlies in a do-or-die play-in game at FedEx Forum. Anthony Davis gave his all in the final game of their season before limping off the court with just under eight minutes left in the fourth quarter due to another injury.
After the blockbuster trade in February, the Mavericks placed immense trust in the former Lakers big man to lead them back to the playoffs. However, despite Davis’ dominant play, the team fell short. The loss ends a turbulent campaign for Dallas just after a remarkable run to the NBA Finals last season.
Anthony Davis Shines In Mavericks’ Play-In Loss To Memphis Grizzlies
Anthony Davis gave it everything he had, but it wasn’t enough to carry the Dallas Mavericks to the postseason. Before the injury, Davis scored a game-high 40 points, grabbed nine rebounds, dished out two assists, and added a steal and a block. He shot 16-of-29 from the field and went 6-of-8 from the free-throw line.
Anthony Davis tonight:
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) April 19, 2025
40 points
9 rebounds
2 assists
55% FG
Left it all out there…
(Via @realapp_ ) pic.twitter.com/OUvl8kfbC9
Davis nearly single-handedly kept the Mavericks in the game. In the first half alone, Davis poured in 22 points to go along with five rebounds and one assist and was accounting for nearly half of Dallas’ scoring output before the break.
Davis played 37 minutes and was the only bright spot for a Mavericks squad that looked flat and disjointed. None of his teammates scored more than 18 points. Klay Thompson contributed 18 points with three assists, and Brandon Williams added 16 points and seven assists off the bench.
Click on ‘Follow Us’ and get notified of the most viral NBA stories via Google! Follow Us
PJ Washington and Dereck Lively II were expected to play supporting roles. But both went scoreless despite playing 27 and 20 minutes, respectively.
On the other side, the Grizzlies took control with a balanced attack and aggressive pace. Jaren Jackson Jr. led the way with 24 points, seven rebounds, and four assists. Ja Morant and Desmond Bane each added 22 points. Big man Zach Edey grabbed 11 boards to go with his 15 points.
With the win, Memphis now advances to the first round of the playoffs. They’ll now face the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round of the playoffs. As for Dallas, the early exit leaves fans wondering if trading away Doncic was a risk worth taking.
Also Read: Luka Doncic Breaks Silence On Los Angeles Lakers’ Championship Hopes Ahead Of NBA Playoffs
