MEMPHIS – A catastrophic season has finally come to an end for the Dallas Mavericks.
A year full of heightened expectations resulted in a disappointing conclusion and failure to reach the playoffs after Dallas was eliminated from postseason contention Friday night when they fell 120-106 to the Memphis Grizzlies.
Ja Morant’s explosive one-handed putback dunk in the first quarter punctuated an explosive start by the Grizzlies, but Anthony Davis’ valiant attempt to play through pain throughout the fourth quarter was the lasting image of the Mavericks’ final game of the 2024-25 season.
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Not many would’ve placed the defending Western Conference champions in the Play-In tournament once the season began, but injury misfortune and a lack of continuity played pivotal roles in the premature ending to the season.
Midway through the fourth quarter, Davis limped his way to the bench, clutching his right leg. He produced his highest scoring performance since joining the Mavericks midseason, 40 points, while playing through obvious discomfort. He attempted to return to the game, but could barely move without limping. With less than five minutes remaining in the game, he sat on the bench for the final time, and draped a towel over his head as he watched his teammates play without him.
It was a microcosm of how this season has gone for Dallas.
The Mavericks will get an opportunity to close the curtain on what has been a tumultuous and transitional time for the franchise. After starting the season with a core built around Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving and Thompson, the franchise finished with Davis as the headliner and an uncertain future.
The dust has barely settled on the finality of the season, but a critical summer awaits the Mavericks. With the loss, the Mavericks are tied for the 12th worst record in the NBA and will likely have a lottery pick. Kyrie Irving has a player option that he could utilize. The Mavericks, who finished the season without a traditional point guard in their starting lineup, will need to address that void as Irving recovers from ACL surgery.
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Davis, the Mavericks’ newest superstar, returned from what could’ve been a season-ending adductor strain as a last-ditch effort to help his new team reach the playoffs. While that didn’t happen, Davis received valuable experience playing with his new teammates, which figures to be better than if he started from scratch next season.
With the win, the Grizzlies will face the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round of the playoffs. Morant didn’t appear to be bothered by his right ankle sprain suffered in Tuesday’s loss to the Golden State Warriors. He finished with 22 points, seven rebounds and nine assists. Jaren Jackson Jr. hurt the Mavericks with his 3-point shooting, finishing with 24 points and four 3s.
Resilience is a signature trait for these Mavericks. They managed to compete while playing shorthanded with eight or nine players. They had to rely on two-way players more often than they anticipated. They lost a generational talent, gained a new superstar and navigated injury after injury.
And now they’ll get a break from it all. A long one.
X/Twitter: @MikeACurtis2
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