Bane scores 32, Grizzlies rout Mavericks 120-103 in team’s first game since Morant’s season-ending injury

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) - The Memphis Grizzlies dominated the Mavericks 120-103 in the team’s first game since the announcement of Ja Morant’s season-ending shoulder injury.

Desmond Bane finished with a team-high 32 points for the Grizzlies while Kyrie Irving scored a game-high 33 points for Dallas.

Luka Doncic finished with 31 points for the Mavericks. Marcus Smart scored 23 points before leaving the game with an injury.

Xavier Tillman Sr. scored 14 points along with 11 rebounds off the bench.

The bench was beneficial as Ziaire Willaims scored 14 and David Roddy scored 11.

Memphis played this game with two game-time scratches in Jaren Jackson Jr. and Santi Aldama, leaving Bismack Biyombo and Xavier Tillman Sr. to be the only big men for the Grizzlies.

Memphis ran a lineup of Marcus Smart, Desmond Bane, Luke Kennard, Vince Williams Jr., and Bismack Biyombo.

The Grizzlies ended the first quarter with a 29-22 lead thanks to 12 points from Desmond Bane and 8 points from Marcus Smart.

The Grizzlies outscored the Mavericks 39 to 31, holding a 22-point lead at one point. The second quarter was highlighted by the strong play of David Roddy as he posterized Josh Green.

Memphis walked into halftime with a 68-53 lead as Bane and Smart led the Grizzlies with 14 points and Luka Doncic led Dallas with 17 points, along with Kyrie Irving’s 15 points.

Marcus Smart opened the second half with nine points, including two three-pointers, before leaving the game due to a dislocated right finger injury.

Dallas would ride the hot shooting of Kyrie Irving in the third quarter as Irving scored 16 in the quarter to fuel the comeback attempt.

Desmond Bane scored 13 in the third quarter as Memphis walked into the fourth quarter with a 20-point lead.

The Mavericks continued to push the comeback, bringing the lead down by as much as 13 at one point, but the Grizzlies responded each time to keep their double-digit lead.

Desmond Bane put the nail in the coffin with an and-1 basket as both teams cleared the bench and Memphis would hold on for the win.

The Grizzlies finish the road trip 3-0 and head back to the FedExForum for a Friday night matchup versus the Los Angeles Clippers.

Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. on Bally Sports.

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