Grizzlies face task of containing Mavs' dynamic duo

The Dallas Mavericks aim to extend their perfect start to their season-long seven-game homestand when they host the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday night.

The Mavericks gave their home fans a thrill with a pair of lopsided victories over the Portland Trail Blazers before recording a 115-108 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday.

Kyrie Irving, who scored 35 points against the Timberwolves, has averaged 29.3 points and 8.7 rebounds during the team's current win streak.

Luka Doncic returned from a one-game absence due to swelling in his right ankle to collect 34 points and eight assists.

"(Kyrie) was great, Luka was great," Mavericks coach Jason Kidd said on Sunday. "Those guys set the tone, not just on the offensive end but the defensive end. I thought the trust from one another -- not just to take turns down the stretch -- but to make plays for their teammates."

Irving made six 3-pointers and filled the stat sheet with eight rebounds, five assists, three steals and two blocks.

"Going against the best of the best, the best defenders, that's when you get to work on all of the stuff you've been working on in the gym," Irving said, per the Dallas Morning News. "That's the time to bring it out. A few times I got blocked, a few times I got stripped, but for the most part I feel like I got where I wanted to on the court and I was successful."

Irving wasn't too successful in his first outing this season against the Grizzlies. He made just 3 of 15 shots from the floor and misfired on all five attempts from 3-point range in Memphis' 108-94 victory on Dec. 1.

Doncic, who did not play in that game versus the Grizzlies, scored 35 points in both Dallas' 125-110 win in Memphis on Oct. 30 and 120-113 road victory on Dec. 11.

The Grizzlies, who are bidding to complete a sweep of their three-game road trip, announced Tuesday that star guard Ja Morant will undergo surgery on his right shoulder and miss the rest of the season.

Morant suffered a shoulder subluxation at practice Saturday, the Grizzlies said in a release. After Morant felt "ongoing soreness and instability" in the shoulder, an MRI revealed a labral tear.

Morant is "expected to make a full recovery ahead of the 2024-25 season," per the team.

Jaren Jackson Jr. scored 31 points in Memphis' 127-113 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday and 28 in a 121-115 win over the Phoenix Suns on Sunday.

Marcus Smart contributed 25 points in a spot start Sunday while playing in place of Morant. Desmond Bane added 23 points and Vince Williams Jr. returned from a two-game absence to record a career-high 19 off the bench versus the Suns.

"This group, we've been fighting all season long, but it's taken a turn right now and they're seeing the results for it," Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins said. "It's just two games playing really well, we know we've got a long way to go."

Jackson collected 30 points and nine rebounds in the October meeting versus Dallas. He drained six 3-pointers to highlight his 41-point performance against the Mavericks on Dec. 11.

The Grizzlies sport a 10-10 record on the road. They will begin a three-game homestand on Friday versus the Los Angeles Clippers.

--Field Level Media