In the NBA Play-In Tournament, the Memphis Grizzlies defeated the Dallas Mavericks 120-106, eliminating the Mavericks from playoff contention. The Grizzlies, finishing 48-34 and 8th in the West, will face the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round. Ja Morant led Memphis with 22 points, while Anthony Davis scored 40 for Dallas, raising concerns about his injury. This loss marked the Mavericks’ first transition from NBA Finals to lottery since 2019-20, prompting critiques of their trade strategy. The outcome also allowed the Washington Wizards to retain a valuable draft pick from a previous trade with Memphis.
