Joe Mullinax here, the host of the daily Locked On Grizzlies podcast, with your daily Locked On Grizzlies newsletter. Each day we bring you the biggest stories about the Grizzlies and the NBA, including the hottest links to other stories you need to read. Plus, Josh Lloyd delivers daily fantasy notes to crush your league.
The autopsy of a wild 2nd half in Dallas
Dec 3, 2024; Dallas, Texas, USA; Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) and Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving (11) chat during the first quarter at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images | Kevin Jairaj/Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.
It wasn’t a tale of two cities in Dallas on Tuesday night for Memphis (shout out Charles Dickens), it was a tale of two quarters of play that made up the second half of a loss for the Grizzlies to the Mavericks.
The third quarter! Beautiful basketball! Memphis won that frame 38-22! They were on pace to win the game by such a margin that the extremely remote possibility of the Grizzlies making the NBA Cup Knockout stage was a bit more plausible!
(For a bit - Oklahoma City destroying Utah squashed that nicely, thankfully.)
The final frame - and specifically the final 3 minutes and 34 seconds, after Ja Morant made a three point shot to give Memphis an eight point lead - was a nightmare that may stick with the team and its fans for some time.
Let’s start with the good.
Ja “Superstar” Morant showed up. Luka Doncic cooked the Grizzlies, especially in the first half. There’s no shame in that - Luka cooks most everyone. But as Luka cooled in the third quarter, Morant accelerated. No one for the Mavericks could stay in front of him. He finished well at the rim, and his defensive efforts continued to trend upward.
The Memphis depth was there, too. Santi Aldama had a productive night with 15 points. Jay Huff hit timely shots and played good defense. Scotty Pippen Jr. stuffed the stat sheet. Memphis played a 10-ish man rotation (Jake LaRavia and Luke Kennard for 17 minutes of play) and the Grizzlies bench was outplaying Dallas’ reserves...
That is, until the final quarter - and especially the final 3:34.
The fouls were absurd. Many, including Taylor Jenkins himself, have pointed out the free throw disparity between the two teams. Memphis took 14 free throws the entire night. Dallas MADE 30 free throws - taking 44.
That means the Mavericks shot a paltry 68.2% from the charity stripe and still more than doubled up Memphis in free throws made. And sure, there were some questionable no-calls that would have gotten the Grizzlies some extra free throw attempts.
Memphis did not defend without fouling. They paid for it. Their fast-paced offense was stalled, and Dallas slowly but surely chipped away.
Poor decision making poured gasoline on the offensive execution fire. Diving for a ball believed to have been tipped. Fouls in the back court when in the penalty. Challenging a foul call that led to free throws for the Mavericks. From coaching to the players, there were numerous choices made that impacted Dallas’ ability to get back in the game.
Credit the Mavericks. Luka Doncic is special. Spencer Dinwiddie hit the threes that finished the comeback. But it doesn’t come to be without the Grizzlies imploding. Memphis has not been in many games against good teams like that this season - where clutch time performance and decisions mattered.
It showed Tuesday. Hopefully it will be a learning experience moving forward.
Dec 1, 2024; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun (28) attempts to secure the ball away from Oklahoma City Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein (55) and guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) during the fourth quarter at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images | Troy Taormina/Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
The first thing I saw when I woke up this morning was a clip of Rockets coach, Ime Udoka, stalking toward referee John Goble and subsequently getting himself ejected. Udoka was incensed over the refs not calling a foul on behalf of Alperen Senguin, who drove to the basket through multiple instances of contact (and shoving) from Kings big, Domantas Sabonis.
The next thing I saw was a report that Rockets forward Tari Eason had run up into the stands after the game’s final whistle to confront a fan who heckled him as he was exiting through the tunnel.
As my brain stirred with the smell of coffee and I read about martial law unfolding and quickly thwarted by protestors and the political opposition in South Korea, I toggled my basketball opinion from This seems serious to It’s really not, regarding all the emotions spilling out on-court last night. This is what, by design, the In-Season Tournament was made for.
This part of the NBA season typically saw a taper of audience attention. The piqued interest of the season getting underway wanes, partially due to the predominantly American audience choosing NFL football over mid-week basketball. The NBA’s Christmas Day slate of games sees a viewership spike but otherwise the “stakes” don’t feel compelling to the casual fan until All-Star, and then again as the playoffs approach. Team owners and the Board of Governors panicked and thus: The NBA Cup was introduced.
Domineering corporate interest aside, the happy side effect of the In-Season Tournament has been higher stakes across the board, and not just from prize incentivization for players (though Josh Hart admitting he just wants a watch is also pretty funny). Young teams, teams on the competitive verge, and teams that may have been considered write-offs to start the season have for the most part used their NBA Cup nights as test runways for playing on a bigger stage and at a higher level. It didn’t necessarily work out for all of them (I had high hopes for the Spurs), but a glance at the Cup’s quarter finals bracket reveals a varied and interesting field of teams.
It’s both preposterous and cool that Warriors vs. Rockets is now a potential Western Conference playoff preview, and that the same goes in the East with Bucks vs. Magic. The Hawks and Knicks will be reunited in their rivalry, and the budding friction between the Mavs and Thunder, through the pestering of Luka Doncic by players who’ve all taken a page from his offensive book, is going to be a lot of fun to watch.
Friction, in good competition, is inevitable. It’s also partially the point. Certainly, coaches shouldn’t make a habit of hounding refs around the court but friction and competition, and friction in competition, don’t need to be negatives.
Two great examples of the symbiotic relationship between the two came in last night’s slate of knockout games. First, with the always expressive Draymond Green unable to hide his disdain from the sidelines as Nikola Jokic grabbed his face after coming down from collision under the rim with 14 seconds left in the game. Green was less actually distraught than sporting a classic “I’m not mad, just disappointed” look.
The second came in the chippy, high-intensity Rockets-Thunder match-up, with Dillon Brooks and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander getting tangled up with each other when they both clamped down on the same loose ball. Neither let it go and they both went careening into the Rockets bench, with their teammates swirling behind. It eventually broke up in laughter because neither of them could keep a straight face, having as close a relationship as they do as teammates for Canada Basketball. When the refs swooped in en masse, Brooks and Gilgeous-Alexander assured them they were cool, everything was fine, and the game continued.
These are games that have gone from weeknight skips, better to relive watching through their highlights the next day, to must-see matches. The stakes range from funny to secondarily furious, tense to over-the-top; are stakes that still only exist in the insular world of NBA basketball, but there are stakes. It’s early December, and we have stakes.
Katie Heindl is a credentialed NBA and WNBA writer, her bylines have appeared with The New York Times Magazine, SLAM, The Athletic, Yahoo Sports, Dime, Rolling Stone, among others. She writes the bestselling Substack, Basketball Feelings and is working on a book of the same name.
Home and Away
Honor Jaylen Wells’ impressive start has earned him Rookie of the Month honors. His standout performances have captured the attention of fans and analysts alike. (Beale Street Bears)
Ranking The latest NBA power rankings haven’t given the Grizzlies due credit for their hot streak. Despite their stellar performance, the team feels overlooked. (Beale Street Bears)
Analysis Marcus Smart criticizes the free-throw discrepancy following the Grizzlies vs. Mavericks game, highlighting significant differences in the number of attempts. (Sports Illustrated)
Feel Good Ja Morant celebrated a Grizzlies G-League player’s remarkable 51-point game, highlighting the supportive and encouraging culture within the team. (Sports Illustrated)
Analysis Tari Eason and Amen Thompson’s defensive abilities are unmatched. (Defector)
News LeBron James is in one of the worst outside shooting slumps of his career. Is playing in all 82-games still doable? (ESPN)
Milestone The 4x NBA All-Star and 16 NBA season vet, Paul Millsap, announces retirement. (ESPN)
Sunday, Dec. 08 | 7:00 PM | Capital One Arena (Washington, DC) | Get Tickets
Fantasy Cheat Sheet
NBA Fantasy Basketball: Key Takeaways from Tuesday’s Games
Dec 3, 2024; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant (35) falls to the ground after rolling his ankle against the San Antonio Spurs in the first half of an NBA Cup game at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas/Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Kevin Durant’s Ankle Injury: What It Means for Fantasy Managers
Kevin Durant’s recent ankle injury is a significant concern for fantasy basketball managers. Durant, who has been a cornerstone for many fantasy teams, left the game after just 16 minutes, scoring 13 points with four rebounds. This re-aggravation of a previous injury could mean time on the sidelines, impacting his availability in the coming weeks. Fantasy managers should consider potential replacements or temporary fill-ins, such as Grayson Allen or Royce O’Neal, who might see increased roles in Durant’s absence. However, neither is a must-add in standard leagues, but they could provide short-term value in deeper formats.
Philadelphia 76ers vs. Charlotte Hornets: Player Performances
In the clash between the 76ers and Hornets, Paul George’s resurgence was a highlight. Despite playing 37 minutes, George’s performance—29 points, eight rebounds, and six three-pointers—showed signs of his former All-NBA self. However, with a back-to-back game on the horizon, his availability remains uncertain, making it crucial for fantasy managers to monitor his status closely.
Tyrese Maxey’s shooting struggles continued, but his ability to contribute in other areas, such as free throws and defense, keeps him relevant in fantasy lineups. Meanwhile, Kelly Oubre Jr. delivered a solid outing with 14 points and four three-pointers, making him a viable short-term option.
Charlotte Hornets’ Frontcourt Dynamics
The return of Mark Williams was a notable development, albeit with limited minutes. This situation presents a sell-high opportunity for Nick Richards, who posted an impressive 22 points and 14 rebounds. While there’s a chance Richards could outperform Williams, the Hornets’ long-term plans likely favour Williams, making Richards a potential trade candidate for savvy fantasy managers.
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