Grizzlies Vs Mavericks: Injury-marred Friday at American Airlines Center
The Dallas Mavericks will host the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday, Feb. 27 in a matchup that has become more about who can field a team than who has the hotter roster — grizzlies vs mavericks arrives with long injury lists and both clubs chasing lottery positioning.
Both teams short-handed for the second night of a back-to-back
WHO: Dallas Mavericks vs Memphis Grizzlies. WHAT: The second night of a home back-to-back for Dallas. WHERE: American Airlines Center, Dallas, Texas. HOW: KFAA Channel 29, MavsTV streaming, NBA League Pass. The Mavericks (21-37) and Grizzlies (21-36) enter the game with nearly identical records but vastly depleted rotations.
Injury lists read like a roster swap
Dallas will be without Kyrie Irving and Dereck Lively, and Cooper Flagg is missing another game because of a foot issue. Marvin Bagley is out after straining his neck in a fall against the Kings. Four Mavericks listed as doubtful — Moussa Cisse, Ryan Nembhard, Klay Thompson, and PJ Washington — are described as out as well, while Caleb Martin is questionable with a back injury. Memphis is also shorthanded: Ja Morant, Zach Edey, Cederic Coward, Brandon Clark, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Kyle Anderson, and Sani Aldama are all out, and Ty Jerome is doubtful. Before tipoff, sixteen players between both teams aren’t going to play.
Grizzlies Vs Mavericks — recent form and home/road splits
Memphis came out of the break with a win over Utah but has lost three straight since, dropping games to Miami, Sacramento, and Golden State. Dallas is coming off a shocking upset loss to the lowly Sacramento Kings on Thursday night after a stretch that included back-to-back wins. The Mavericks are 14-17 at home this season, while Memphis is 9-18 on the road.
Matchup history and matchup angles
The Grizzlies have dominated Dallas in recent years, winning the last six meetings and seven of the last eight. Oddsmakers list the Mavericks as home favorites at the best betting sites for Friday night. This is a tough game to handicap with injuries piling up on both sides; each team is trying to cobble together a starting lineup, and that approach hasn’t worked well for them in recent games.
Player notes and shooting trends to watch
Cam Spencer’s long-range touch has cooled: he averages 2. 1 three pointers made on 4. 7 attempts per game this season but is just 3 for 11 from deep since the All-Star break and 3 for 18 from beyond the arc in six games dating back to Feb. 9. The Mavericks defend the perimeter well on paper, allowing 12. 3 three pointers per game and 3. 3 to shooting guards, which is one reason a handicapper has said he will fade Spencer tonight in Dallas.
Fatigue and matchup context in Dallas
Dallas is described as tired after playing the night before; Memphis had at least one day off. The Mavericks’ wear shows up in commentary — one writer noted Naji Marshall is playing “100000 minutes” — and that soreness factors into expectations for what could be an ugly contest. The Mavericks’ loss to Sacramento the night before and Memphis’s three-game skid set a stage where both teams are essentially racing toward the lottery.
Fan engagement items and postgame plans included in the coverage: one host invited readers to chime in with predictions in the comments and suggested joining Josh and him on Pod Maverick live after the game on YouTube, noting they should start late and closing with “Let’s go Mavs!”
Next up: the game at American Airlines Center on Friday, Feb. 27 will determine immediate recovery steps for both clubs and set the next items on their schedules; recovery and rotation decisions after this game will be the confirmed next events for coaches and trainers.
