Mavericks squeak out victory over lowly Grizzlies

Khris Middleton scored 22 of his season-high 35 points in the fourth quarter and Daniel Gafford added 22 points and 14 rebounds to lead the visiting Dallas Mavericks over the Memphis Grizzlies 120-112 Thursday night to snap an eight-game losing streak.

Middleton, who came off the bench, had 24 points in the second half and opened the fourth quarter by scoring the Mavericks' first 11 points. His outburst turned a two-point lead by Dallas entering the final quarter into an 11-point Mavericks advantage at 97-86. Memphis, which lost its sixth straight, never challenged again.

Middleton was 10-of-17 shooting and made 8-of-10 from 3-point range.

Cooper Flagg contributed 13 points and seven assists for the Mavericks and Max Christie also had 13 points. P.J. Washington finished with 12 points and 10 boards and Brandon Williams had 12 points and eight rebounds.

Jaylen Wells led the Grizzlies with 23 points, GG Jackson scored 20 and Javon Small finished with 19 points and nine assists.

Dallas, playing the final game of a six-game road trip, had lost 18 of its previous 20 games. The Mavericks also had lost their previous three games against the Grizzlies this season.

The Mavericks dominated on the boards. They outrebounded Memphis, 60-38, and finished with 21 offensive boards.

The Grizzlies had only eight players available for the game, including Taylor Burton who was signed earlier Thursday to a 10-day hardship contract.

Memphis played without rookie starter Cedric Coward (knee) and guards Walter Clayton Jr. (ankle) and Ty Jerome (calf) because of injuries or injury management.

The Mavericks built a 20-point lead in the second quarter behind Gafford, who had 17 points and eight rebounds before halftime.

Memphis fought back in the third quarter, closing the half on a 13-4 run. The Grizzlies tied the game at 84-84 during the run on two free throws by Small with 1:05 to go in the quarter. Dallas did not make a field goal in the final 3:59 of the third.

Dallas outscored Memphis, 42-16, in the paint during the first half and led 65-54 at the break.

--Field Level Media