NBA Picks 3/7 – Memphis Grizzlies @ Dallas Mavericks

NBA Picks 3/7 – Memphis Grizzlies @ Dallas Mavericks

by Thomas Quaynor for Wannamakeabet.com

Two struggling teams will look to get back on the winning track tonight as the Memphis Grizzlies (38-24) visit the Dallas Mavericks (32-31) at American Airlines Center on ESPN. This is the third of four meetings between the Southwest division combatants. The Grizzlies and Mavericks split the first two matchups with each team winning at home. They’ll face off for a final time on April 13 in Memphis. The Grizzlies have won three of the four against the Mavs. Memphis is an 11-point favorite and the total is 239.

Memphis is coming off a 120-103 loss to the Western Conference-leading Oklahoma City Thunder at home on Wednesday night. Ja Morant led the Grizzlies with 24 points (8-22 FG, 2-9 3Pt, 6-6 FT), six assists, three rebounds and a steal across 32 minutes. Scottie Pippen Jr. added 15 points (6-9 FG, 2-3 3Pt, 1-1 FT), five rebounds, three assists and three steals in 21 minutes off the bench. Memphis has now lost a season-high four games in a row.

The injury-depleted Dallas Mavericks were trounced by the Milwaukee Bucks 137-107 on the road in their previous game on Wednesday night. The Mavs only had eight available players in the loss to Milwaukee. Klay Thompson produced 28 points (11-27 FG, 6-14 3Pt), four rebounds, four assists and a steal in 34 minutes. Naji Marshall registered a double-double of 22 points (10-18 FG, 2-6 3Pt, 0-1 FT) and 11 rebounds over 32 minutes. The Mavs have lost three in a row and five of their last six games. 

GAME STORYLINES: MEMPHIS

Seven years ago, the Memphis Grizzlies used back-to-back NBA drafts to land two cornerstone players who have elevated the franchise into perennial Western Conference contenders. In the 2018 NBA draft, Memphis selected Michigan State power forward Jaren Jackson Jr. with the fourth overall pick. In 2019, Memphis choose Murray State point guard Ja Morant second overall. While Morant has become the franchise-player,  — he was named the 2019-20 NBA Rookie of the Year and selected as an All-Star twice — Jackson’s contributions have also been invaluable. 

By their third year playing together (2021-22), the duo of Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. led Memphis to a 56-26 finish which was good for the No. 2 seed in the stacked Western Conference. Memphis also advanced to the second round of the playoffs for the first time since 2014-15. The 56 wins was their most since the 2012-13 season. Memphis appeared to have a bright future ahead of them with Morant and Jackson leading the team.

Unfortunately for Memphis, injuries and two suspensions for superstar point guard Ja Morant marred the 2023 and 2024 seasons. Morant was suspended for 8 games in March 2023 after he posted a video of himself flashing a gun in a strip club. During the offseason in 2023, Morant was filmed again flashing a gun and was suspended for the first 25 games of the 2023-24 season. Morant returned from the second suspension in December 2023 but suffered a season-ending shoulder injury on Jan. 8, 2024. Morant only appeared in 9 games during the 2023-24 season which resulted in Memphis finishing with a dismal 27-55 record.

NBA Picks 3/7 – Memphis Grizzlies @ Dallas Mavericks

The 2024-25 season has seen Memphis reclaim their spot amongst the Western Conference elite with the return of a relatively healthy Ja Morant, along with Jaren Jackson Jr. producing at a high level. Morant is averaging 20.9 points, a team-high 7.4 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.5 threes per game across 39 contests. Jackson is averaging a career-high 22.7 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.6 blocks, 1.3 steals and 1.9 threes per game while shooting 49.7 percent from the floor. Jackson was named an All-Star for the second time of his career this season. 

The injury bug has bitten Memphis again this season as it was announced yesterday that All-Star forward Jaren Jackson Jr. will be out for multiple weeks with a Grade 2 left ankle sprain. He suffered the injury during Monday’s loss to the Atlanta Hawks. Jackson had missed just two games before going down with the ankle injury. 

Shooting guard Desmond Bane (18.5 pts, 6 rebs, 5.4 asts, 1.2 stls, 2.2 threes, 48.7% from 2, 37.7% from 3), forward Santi Aldama (12.8 pts, 6.7 rebs, 2.8 asts, 1.8 threes, 48.7% from 2, 37.6% from 3), rookie forward Jaylen Wells (11.3 pts, 3.2 rebs, 1.9 threes) and rookie center Zach Edey (9.3 pts, 7.8 rebs, 1.2 blks, 58.8% from 2) have all been great in supporting roles for Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. All four will be counted on to elevate their performance in the absence of Jackson, who could be out until mid-April. 

GAME STORYLINES: DALLAS

A little over nine months ago, the Dallas Mavericks were playing in the NBA Finals after making a somewhat surprising run through the ultra-competitive Western Conference. The Mavs lost to the Boston Celtics 4-1 in the NBA Finals but things were looking up as they returned a deep and balanced team led by then 25-year-old superstar Luka Doncic. Fast forward to today (March 7, 2025) and the Dallas Mavericks franchise looks to be in complete shambles. 

The downfall of the Dallas Mavericks began on the late-night or early morning hours of February 1-2, 2025 when it was announced that Dallas traded its franchise player Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for a package that included superstar power forward/center Anthony Davis. The blockbuster trade took the sports and non-sports world by storm. It was reported that Doncic did not expect to be traded and was unhappy with it initially.

Things got worse for Dallas a week after the trade occurred when Anthony Davis suffered an adductor strain in his debut for Dallas on Feb. 8 against Houston. The 31-year-old Davis was in the midst of a dominating performance against Houston totaling 26 points (10-18 FG, 2-4 3Pt, 4-6 FT), 16 rebounds, 7 assists and 3 blocks across 31 minutes of action before exiting the game late in the third quarter with the injury. Davis has not played again since suffering the injury almost a month ago.

NBA Picks 3/7 – Memphis Grizzlies @ Dallas Mavericks

The injury woes didn’t stop for Dallas as center Daniel Gafford suffered a sprained right knee in the second quarter of a 129-128 loss against Sacramento on Feb. 10. This was the Mavs next game after Anthony Davis suffered his injury. Gafford is expected to miss six weeks. Dallas’ third center Dereck Lively II was already on the injured list since mid-January after suffering a stress fracture in his right ankle.

The possible final nail in the coffin to the Dallas Mavericks 2024-25 season took place four days ago when star guard Kyrie Irving suffered a torn ACL in his left knee during a loss to the Sacramento Kings on Mar. 3. He will miss the remainder of the season. Irving’s season ends with him averaging 24.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 1.3 steals and 2.9 threes per game while shooting 47.1 percent from the floor, 40.1 percent from beyond the arc and 91.6 percent from the free throw line in 50 games. With Kyrie Irving missing the rest of the season, its rumored that Dallas will keep Anthony Davis shelved for the rest of the year. 

Dallas will now rely on 35-year-old, veteran sharpshooter Klay Thompson (14.1 pts, 3.5 rebs, 3.1 threes, 40.2% from 3), veteran combo guard Spencer Dinwiddie (10.1 pts, 3.8 asts, 1.3 threes), swingman Naji Harris (11.3 pts, 4.3 rebs, 1 stl, 49.7% from 2) and possibly P.J. Washington (14 pts, 8.1 rebs, 1.2 stls, 1.1 blks, 1.6 threes) to carry them for the rest of the season. One could conclude that the Mavs would consider shutting down Washington for the rest of the year because his ankle injury has been troublesome for him over the past few weeks and the team is no longer in contention to win a title. Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively II could also be shut down for the rest of the season.

THE PICK: GRIZZLIES (-11)

Both teams are struggling right now and are dealing with major injuries but Dallas’ situation is a lot worse — the fans have also turned on management — as they could have just 7 or 8 players available tonight. I’m not sure what the remaining guys on the Mavs have to play for at this point as the team is ravaged with injuries and they may not have the manpower to even compete on most nights. At least Memphis still has a shot to get the No. 2 seed in the West. Lay the Points and take the Grizzlies tonight.