Memphis Grizzlies vs Dallas Mavericks

Caught up in the chatter, chuckling at Nico Harrison and standing up for Luka Doncic, the spotlight missed Anthony Davis. He’s a champion with the Lakers, a 10-time All-Star, yet in this major trade, he was barely a footnote?

Davis had every reason to be upset, and his intensity has been clear on the court—when injuries haven’t sidelined him.

That fire was evident on Wednesday, with Davis dropping 27 points and snagging nine rebounds while limiting Domantas Sabonis to a mere 11 points and forcing five turnovers. Davis has always relished matchups with Sabonis, and this was no exception.

Guess who else Davis loves to dominate? Jaren Jackson Jr. Over their last six encounters spanning three years, Davis has averaged 28.2 points and 14.3 rebounds, shooting an impressive 57% from the field. Jackson, by contrast, has managed 22.5 points and just 6.3 rebounds, with a 52.2% shooting clip.

If Davis can reliably outplay Jackson, this game could be a tight one worth watching.

When Davis was on the court during the regular season, the Mavericks posted a +1.6 net rating. That’s based on just nine games, often against weaker opponents, but it doesn’t account for Wednesday’s blowout of the Kings.

Memphis, meanwhile, had a +1.1 net rating in the last month of the regular season, though that doesn’t factor in their collapse against Golden State on Tuesday.

In short, expecting Davis to dominate Jackson aligns with recent team net ratings, suggesting a game that could come down to a couple of possessions.

The Memphis Grizzlies head into their upcoming clash with mixed form, having won three and lost two of their last five games. Offensively, they’ve been firing on all cylinders, averaging over 115 points per game and an impressive 121.7 points at home—second-best in the NBA. Their offensive power is driven by Jaren Jackson Jr.’s dominance inside the paint, supported by reliable perimeter scoring from Ja Morant and Desmond Bane.

Despite these offensive strengths, Memphis fell short in their recent play-in loss to the Golden State Warriors (116–121). While they remained competitive throughout, their defensive struggles proved costly. Ranked 24th in defensive rating (allowing 116.9 points per game), they couldn’t contain the explosive duo of Jimmy Butler and Stephen Curry, who racked up a combined 75 points. Adding to the concern is the uncertainty surrounding Ja Morant’s availability after he picked up a knock in that matchup. As one of the league’s youngest teams, the Grizzlies may find it difficult to rely on experience in this high-stakes meeting with Dallas.

As for the Mavericks, they’ve also been battling inconsistency, splitting their last 10 games evenly (5-5). However, their road performances have been solid, in large part due to the return of Anthony Davis. The star big man dropped 23 points in their dominant play-in win over the Sacramento Kings (120–106), showcasing both his scoring ability and leadership. Veteran guard Klay Thompson also played a key role, matching Davis’ output with 23 points of his own.

Dallas impressed with their unity and intensity in that game, and they’ll need more of the same to challenge Memphis. Still, defensive inconsistency remains a concern—particularly in transition and perimeter coverage. Offensively, they lean heavily on their three-point game, which can be a double-edged sword. While it’s a staple of their strategy, their success rate (36.4%) sits just mid-pack at 15th in the league.