Grizzlies rout Mavericks in battle of the backups
Lamar Stevens, Marvin Bagley III, Cam Spencer and Jay Huff combined for 101 points to lift the host Memphis Grizzlies to a 132-97 win over the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday afternoon.
Stevens had 31 points and six rebounds, Bagley added 25 points and 12 boards, Spencer contributed 23 points and seven assists and Huff finished with 22 points, six rebounds and six blocks in the regular-season finale for both teams.
Daniel Gifford paced the Mavericks (39-43) with 20 points and seven rebounds. Jaden Hardy scored 17 and Max Christie had 14.
Both teams rested the majority of their starters and key reserves ahead of Tuesday's play-in tournament. The Grizzlies (48-34) played without starters Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Zach Edey along with reserves Santi Aldama and Scotty Pippen Jr. Memphis had only eight players available.
The Mavericks sat starters Anthony Davis, Klay Thompson, Dereck Lively II and P.J. Washington.
Memphis will play as the Western Conference's No. 8 seed in the 7 vs. 8 game. Dallas, as the 10th seed, will face Sacramento in the 9 vs. 10 game.
The Grizzlies built a double-digit lead late in the first quarter and gradually extended it throughout the game behind unselfish play. Memphis finished with 31 assists on 52 field goals.
Memphis led by 13 at the half and by 29 at the end of three quarters. The Grizzlies used a 17-5 run to close the third for a 104-75 cushion. Popular, seldom-used 5-foot-8 reserve guard Yuki Kawamura had six points and two assists during the run, including a four-point play. He finished with a career-high 12 points.
In the fourth quarter, the Grizzlies pushed ahead by 41 following a putback by Bagley. They led comfortably by 30-plus points throughout the period.
Huff had four blocks in the first quarter, the most in a quarter this season by a Memphis player.
The Grizzlies, behind 18 assists on 24 made field goals, led 67-54 at halftime. They built a 23-point advantage (67-44) late in the second quarter.
--Field Level Media
Field Level Media 2023 - All Rights Reserved
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