The Dallas Mavericks’ disastrous start to the season continued Friday with a 118-104 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies in each team’s first game of NBA Cup group play.
Dallas trailed by as many as 35 points in Memphis, and while it was able to cut Memphis’ lead to 13 points in the fourth quarter, that was not nearly enough as the Mavericks suffered a fourth consecutive defeat and dropped to 2-7 on the season.
Mavericks big man Anthony Davis missed a fourth game in a row with a left calf strain. Dallas has gone winless in that stretch.
In Wednesday’s game against the New Orleans Pelicans, Mavericks coach Jason Kidd tried to spark his team by inserting D’Angelo Russell — a traditional point guard — in the starting lineup. The Mavericks lost to the Pelicans, but Kidd stuck with Russell in the starting lineup Friday. The results weren’t any better two nights later. Russell only played 16 minutes.
Russell and Dallas’ other perimeter defenders had a hard time keeping Grizzlies guard Ja Morant in front of them. Morant racked up 21 points and 13 assists. Memphis outscored Dallas by 28 points in his 32 minutes on the floor.
Ja Morant called DLo tiny 😅😭 pic.twitter.com/NrTr2MA56D
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) November 8, 2025
The Mavericks’ 30th-ranked offense didn’t show many signs of perking up. Dallas shot 10 of 39 from 3-point land. Max Christie, one of Dallas’ only bright spots so far this season, was responsible for four of the makes. Klay Thompson came off the bench for a second straight game. He missed all five 3-pointers he attempted.
Meanwhile, seven different Grizzlies players scored in double digits. Rookie Cedric Coward contributed 21 points, nine rebounds and four assists off the bench.
Memphis ended a four-game losing streak and took a step forward after a drama-filled start to the season. Morant was suspended for Sunday’s game for “conduct detrimental to the team.” On Friday, he played arguably his best game of the season against reeling Dallas.
The Mavericks have had the NBA’s worst offense for most of this season, and they’re now the owners of the worst record in the Western Conference. They face a quick turnaround and will play the Washington Wizards on Saturday.
It’s unclear if Davis will be able to play. Daniel Gafford’s status is also uncertain. Gafford exited Friday’s game in the third quarter and never returned with right ankle soreness. Gafford missed the first five games of the season with a right ankle sprain.
