The Memphis Grizzlies ended a four-game losing streak Friday night with a 118-104 win over the Dallas Mavericks at FedExForum, responding with one of their most complete performances of the season.
Memphis dominated the first half, scoring a season-high 74 points and recording 19 assists before the break. The Grizzlies used a 19-6 run in the second quarter to build a 25-point lead and led by as many as 35 โ their largest margin in any game this year. Seven players scored in double figures, and the teamโs league-leading bench contributed 49 points.
The win moved Memphis to 4-6 on the season and 1-1 in NBA Cup group play, while Dallas dropped to 2-7.
Morant Leads the Way
Ja Morant guided the offense with 21 points, 13 assists and five rebounds, controlling tempo and making timely reads throughout the first half. It marked his second double-double of the season and the first time in his career he had reached the milestone before halftime.
โGood job. Obviously, got to be better in the second half, but all the way to come up with a win,โ Morant said.
Morant credited the teamโs early ball movement and spacing for sparking a fluid offensive rhythm. โOnce we got into rhythm, the defense had to decide whether to stay home or collapse,โ he said. โThatโs when everything started to open up.โ
The Grizzliesโ first-half ball security stood out after a stretch of turnover-heavy losses. Morant noted that controlling pace was key to the improved flow and to getting teammates involved.
Cowardโs Composure and Confidence Shine
Rookie forward Cedric Coward continues to look comfortable in Memphisโ rotation. Against Dallas, he provided energy and efficiency off the bench, finishing with 21 points, nine rebounds and four assists in 28 minutes. His mid-range shooting and rebounding presence helped the Grizzlies extend their lead and maintain control.
โItโs a shot I work on all the time,โ Coward said. โIf the defense gives it to me, I just take it. Itโs like a practice shot.โ
Coward said the victory felt like a turning point for the group. โThis win brought us back to who we are,โ he said. โWe learned a lot through those losses and finally applied it tonight. Everybody bought in tremendously to what we needed to do.โ
Morant said Coward keeps standing out with how polished his game already is. He moves well without the ball, makes smart reads in pick and rolls, and can score from anywhere on the floor. Morant added that Cowardโs steady production has earned the teamโs trust and confidence.
He also credited the teamโs leadership for helping him adjust quickly to the NBA pace. โThe vets and coaches keep telling me, just go and be Ced,โ Coward said. โWhether you score 21 and nine or six and ten, just impact the game and help us win.โ
Iisalo Praises Focus and Togetherness
Head coach Tuomas Iisalo pointed to Thursdayโs walkthrough as a key moment of preparation, saying the discipline from that session carried into Fridayโs performance.
โWe started off with great focus,โ Iisalo said. โOur spacing had been chaotic in some of the previous games, but tonight it was sharp. Ja made the right decisions time and time again, and everyone played off that.โ
Iisalo said the teamโs improved shot-making from the wings, including Coward and Cam Spencer, created the balance Memphis needed. โThose guys making shots changes everything,โ he said. โIt makes the game harder for the opponent because weโre balanced and connected.โ
He described the win as one of the Grizzliesโ best team efforts of the young season, citing both energy and chemistry. โWhen we move together like that, the defense is always one step behind,โ Iisalo said. โThatโs how we want to play.โ
Balanced Contributions Across the Roster
Memphisโ second unit once again proved why it ranks among the NBAโs most productive. Santi Aldama matched a season high with 16 points, Jaren Jackson Jr. added 17, and Spencer chipped in 12. Jaylen Wells and John Konchar provided stability on both ends, helping Memphis maintain control even when Dallas made short runs in the second half.
The Grizzlies kept the Mavericksโ top scorers in check and won the battle on the boards, anchored by Cedric Cowardโs steady effort inside while the Mavericks’ Anthony Davis remained sidelined with a left calf strain. Memphis looked noticeably more connected โ communicating on switches, rotating with purpose, and finding rhythm and spacing on both ends after a stretch of inconsistent play.
Looking Ahead
The win snapped both a four-game overall skid and a three-game home slide. Memphis now turns its attention to closing its homestand Sunday against the Oklahoma City Thunder before embarking on a road-heavy stretch with nine of its next 11 games away from FedExForum.
The Grizzliesโ renewed energy and balanced effort offered a glimpse of what the team can build upon moving forward; a reminder that when focus meets execution, Memphis has the tools to compete with anyone.
