Khris Middleton erupted for 35 points off the bench to lead the Dallas Mavericks to a 120-112 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies. Both of these teams are all but eliminated from playoff contention, but that was hard to tell based on the intensity last night.
Memphis battled back from a 20-point deficit to make it close in the fourth, but Middleton willed his team to a win with his fourth-quarter outburst. The Mavericks controlled the glass with a +22 rebounding advantage and turned those extra possessions into points at the expense of the Grizzlies. Jaylen Wells led the way for Memphis with 23 points, but it wasn’t enough as the Grizzlies dropped their sixth game in a row.
Final Score and Team Stats
| Team | Points | FG% | Three-Point % | Rebounds | Assists | Turnovers |
| Dallas Mavericks | 120 | 48% | 34% | 60 | 25 | 19 |
| Memphis Grizzlies | 112 | 42% | 29% | 38 | 26 | 10 |
Dallas Mavericks Player Stats
| Player | Points | Rebounds | Assists | 3PT | +/- | Minutes |
| Khris Middleton | 35 | 2 | 1 | 8/10 | +21 | 25 |
| Daniel Gafford | 22 | 14 | 1 | 0/0 | +6 | 27 |
| Cooper Flagg | 13 | 6 | 7 | 0/3 | +11 | 33 |
| Max Christie | 13 | 0 | 0 | 3/8 | +8 | 25 |
| PJ Washington | 12 | 10 | 1 | 0/3 | +2 | 28 |
Khris Middleton stole the show with 35 points in 25 minutes of action for one of the most efficient performances of the veteran’s career. He went a sizzling 8-for-10 from behind the arc and collected 22 points in the fourth quarter alone. While Middleton’s scoring was a key factor for Dallas’ success, their ability to dominate the glass was just as crucial.
Daniel Gafford and PJ Washington both logged double doubles thanks to their effort in the paint, while Marvin Bagley III and Brandon Williams also chipped in with 9 and 8 rebounds, respectively. Dallas let their early lead slip, but they ended up pulling away late for a comfortable road win in one of the more surprising sports news storylines of the night.
Memphis Grizzlies Player Stats
| Player | Points | Rebounds | Assists | 3PT | +/- | Minutes |
| Jaylen Wells | 23 | 2 | 2 | 3/7 | -19 | 32 |
| GG Jackson II | 20 | 4 | 3 | 1/6 | +3 | 31 |
| Javon Small | 19 | 2 | 9 | 3/6 | +2 | 28 |
| Taylor Hendricks | 17 | 10 | 2 | 3/6 | +5 | 24 |
| Rayan Rupert | 13 | 7 | 2 | 1/4 | -19 | 38 |
A long list of injuries for the Memphis Grizzlies forced them to lean on their prospects, and no one stood out last night. Jaylen Wells led the team in points with 23, but he was a liability on defense, highlighted by his -19 +/- in 32 minutes on the court.
Taylor Hendricks tried to contain the Mavericks during his time off the bench, grabbing 10 rebounds, but a lack of gang rebounding from the rest of the Grizzlies cost them a win.
Key Player Matchup: Khris Middleton vs Jaylen Wells
A shorthanded Grizzlies side had no answer for Khris Middleton, as Jaylen Wells tried desperately to keep up with his offensive display. Middleton got off to a relatively mundane start with 12 points through the first three quarters, as the Mavericks have opted to give their rising stars more playing time over their seasoned veterans.
Everything changed in the fourth quarter, as Middleton caught fire from the floor, pouring in 22 points. Wells tried to keep up, but a crucial miss down the stretch ousted any chance of a late Grizzlies rally, which also spoiled any NBA prediction that Memphis could complete the comeback.
Game-Changing Moments
The Dallas Mavericks led from wire-to-wire in this game, building a lead as large as 20 points in front of a quiet Memphis home crowd. The Mavericks were able to dominate early, with Daniel Gafford doing a bulk of the scoring and rebounding, while Cooper Flagg was able to efficiently distribute the basketball.
Gafford earned an and-one opportunity in the second quarter before slamming down a ferocious dunk the following play, forcing Memphis to call a timeout as the lead swelled to 13. PJ Washington’s alley-oop slam minutes later got the traveling fans on their feet, as Dallas looked dominant to kick things off.
In the third quarter, the Grizzlies were able to fight back to cut the lead to a single possession heading into the fourth. Even at 86-84, the game still felt in control for Dallas before Middleton took over. His 22 fourth-quarter points left little doubt of who would emerge victorious during the closing minutes, as he turned back the clock with a vintage performance. His 11 points in the first two minutes of the fourth allowed Dallas to kick off the final frame on an 11-2 run, and they held at least a three-possession lead until the final buzzer, comfortably clearing the late-game NBA odds and lines swings that came with Memphis’ push.
What This Means Moving Forward
Both of these teams are already looking ahead to next year’s draft, and this game will have little impact on anything tangible this season.
Memphis is in 11th place, one spot back of the last play-in tournament position, but they are seven and a half games back of the Trail Blazers and have dropped six games in a row. Once you couple that with their 11-player injury list, any hope of meaningful basketball in Memphis this season has already evaporated.
Dallas snapped a lengthy losing skid of their own and will be looking to build on their success in the final month of the year. They already have the young talent they need, and picking up a few wins would go a long way toward momentum next year. Just one victory separates these two in the standings, so this matchup may be looked back on when the draft lottery positions are finalized.
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FAQ Section
Who scored the most points in Mavericks vs. Grizzlies tonight?
Khris Middleton scored the most points in Mavericks vs. Grizzlies, leading the way with 35 points. He scored 22 in the fourth quarter alone and went a sizzling 8-for-10 from behind the arc in the victory.
How many points did Cooper Flagg score?
Cooper Flagg had a balanced night on the offensive end, finishing with 13 points. While he wasn’t the leading scorer for the Mavericks, his 7 assists were a team-high, and he also tacked on 6 rebounds.
What was the final score of Mavericks vs. Grizzlies?
The final score of the Mavericks vs Grizzlies was 120-112, with the Dallas Mavericks picking up a valuable road win to snap their 8-game losing streak.
