Dallas Mavericks Vs. Memphis Grizzlies: Predictions, Starting Lineups (12/11/23)
With a 1-1 series record, the Dallas Mavericks will look to secure their second win against the Grizzlies this season when they travel to Memphis on Monday night. See our Dallas Mavericks vs. Memphis Grizzlies predictions, betting picks, and analysis below!
Dallas Mavericks Vs. Memphis Grizzlies Prediction
It is challenging to imagine a worse scenario to start the 2023-24 regular season than this for the Memphis Grizzlies; they are in 13th place in the Western Conference with a 6-15 record. Injuries have continued to plague this team, and even though Ja Morant returns in four games from suspension, his presence alone may not be enough to catapult this team back into the playoff picture.
Still, after a horrendous start to the year, Memphis has since played a bit better on both sides of the ball. In the past five games, the Grizzlies are 3-2, with wins against Utah, Detroit, and Dallas; their losses have come on the road against a Phoenix Suns team that had Devin Booker and Kevin Durant available and at home versus Minnesota, the best team in the Western Conference currently. Additionally, Memphis had the fourth-lowest (best) defensive rating in the NBA, behind only Minnesota, Los Angeles, and Cleveland, in that span.
The Mavericks have a 13-8 record but have been on a roller coaster recently, winning three of their past six games, with wins over Portland, Utah, and Houston (at home) and losses to Memphis, Oklahoma City, and Los Angeles (Clippers.)
Utah, Portland, and Houston (1-8 on the road) are three of the easiest games that the Mavericks will have this season, so don’t put too much equity in some of their recent numbers (net rating, FG%, 3P%, etc…) because they are skewed, especially with their 50-point win against the Jazz.
Ultimately, losing Josh Green, Kyrie Irving, Maxi Kleber, and Grant Williams (two starters and a key rotation player) to injuries will force Dallas to embrace a short-term learning curve. The Mavs won’t figure it all out in one game, though, especially with such a thin frontcourt (Dereck Lively II, Richaun Holmes, Dwight Powell, and Derrick Jones Jr.) Look for the Grizz to dominate the glass and the paint against a team that ranks 26th in total rebounding rate, even before these injuries, and snag a home win in this spot.
Dallas Mavericks Vs. Memphis Grizzlies Prediction: Grizzlies +1.5
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Dallas Mavericks Vs. Memphis Grizzlies Best Odds
The Memphis Grizzlies are 1.5-point home dogs against the Kyrie Irving-less Dallas Mavericks on Monday night. The Grizzlies have plus-money odds (+102) to secure their second home win of the season, while Dallas is a -122 favorite to win outright. The point total for this bout sits at 226 points, with the Over and Under each holding odds of -110.
Dallas Mavericks Starting Lineup
PG: Luka Doncic
SG: Tim Hardaway Jr.
SF: Dante Exum
PF: Derrick Jones Jr.
C: Dereck Lively III
Memphis Grizzlies Starting Lineup
PG: Derrick Rose
SG: Desmond Bane
SF: David Roddy
PF: Jaren Jackson Jr.
C: Bismack Biyombo
Dallas Mavericks Vs Memphis Grizzlies Injuries
The Memphis Grizzlies have been battered with injuries since the end of last season, and that trend has continued into this one; they will be without Steven Adams (knee), Brandon Clarke (Achilles), Ja Morant (suspension), Marcus Smart (ankle), Luke Kennard (knee), and Jake LaRavia (eye.)
Meanwhile, Dallas has several injuries to key players of its own, including Kyrie Irving (heel), Josh Green (elbow), Maxi Kleber (toe), and Grant Williams (knee.) All of those players will also be unavailable to play in tonight’s matchup.
Dallas Mavericks Vs. Memphis Grizzlies Key Matchups
Here’s an interesting key matchup for the Dallas Mavericks vs. Memphis Grizzlies game: Luka Doncic versus Whoever The Grizz Put On Him. See below just how much Doncic will dominate this matchup and if it will be enough to help the Mavs secure a road win.
Luka Doncic vs. Whoever The Grizz Put On Him
The Memphis Grizzlies have tried an inordinate amount of lineups to start the 2023-24 regular season, looking for any grouping of players that can keep them competitive and in the playoff hunt until Ja Morant returns; they have tried deploying Santi Aldama at the small forward position, Jaren Jackson Jr. as a small-ball center, and a handful of different forwards alongside Bismack Biyombo and Jackson Jr.
So far, there have not really been any lineups that are surefire answers, and with just four games remaining until Morant returns, the Grizzlies don’t really have more time to get creative. For this game, we can expect David Roddy to draw the start against Doncic and Vince Williams Jr. to log minutes off the bench to switch defensive looks up throughout the game.
In Luka’s last game against the Grizzlies (earlier this season), he posted 35 points, 12 rebounds, and 12 assists on 50% shooting from the field and 50% from deep on substantial volume (6-for-12.) Roddy is a physical player who possesses impressive strength in his 6-foot-5 frame, but Doncic doesn’t shy away from physicality; he uses it to draw fouls and get defenders in situations where they are off-balance.
Further, Vince Williams is also not afraid to play in-your-face defense, but he has been prone to foul trouble in the minutes he has seen this season for the Grizz. Ultimately, Doncic will again have a significant advantage in this game; however, we don’t see the Mavs winning on the road against Memphis without Kyrie, Green, Kleber, and Williams. Advantage: Doncic