Memphis Grizzlies hit the road to take on the Dallas Mavericks
The Memphis Grizzlies will pay a visit to the Dallas Mavericks on Friday 29 October, with the game tipping off at 8:30 p.m. ET.
In the second game of the regular season for both teams, the Mavericks (1-0) will look to remain undefeated while the Grizzlies (0-1) will be vying for their first win of the season, a feat that could
prove challenging for Memphis.
With Marc Gasol out with a sprained left ankle, the Grizzlies already had a thin frontcourt when they opened up their regular season on Wednesday 27 October against the Atlanta Hawks. But the story got
even worse for Memphis’ big men when Zach Randolph suffered a lower back injury in the first half of play. The power forward, who averaged 23.0 points and 13.5 rebounds against Dallas last year, would not return to the game on Wednesday and will be sidelined
for tonight’s matchup.
"I'm very sore," Randolph said. "I just have to see how it feels, get some treatment. I'm going to come back when I'm 100 percent."
The Mavericks have been dominant at home against the Grizzlies, winning nine consecutive games in the American Airlines Arena by an average of 12.1 points. Memphis guard O.J. Mayo has struggled against
Dallas in their past four games, averaging 13.8 points on 34.5 per cent shooting. In their season opening 119-104 loss to Atlanta, Mayo scored a quiet nine points while Mike Conley had 23 and Rudy g*y added 21.
The Grizzlies were not a good road team last season, losing their first six games away from home on their way to a road record of 17-24.
Memphis has had a lot of trouble with Mavericks’ All-Star Dirk Nowitzki, who has averaged 24.8 points and 8.3 rebounds while shooting 56 per cent from the field in their last nine matchups.
While the Grizzlies are struggling with size up front, the Mavericks got better in that department over the off-season with the acquisition of seven-footer Tyson Chandler, coming over from the Charlotte
Bobcats. Looking to bolster their defence after finishing 15th in the league in field goal defence last season, the presence of Chandler may have already made a difference. In their season opener on Wednesday 27 October, the Mavericks held the Bobcats to 39.7
per cent from the field on their way to a 101-86 victory.
"We were really scrambling out there," Nowitzki said after the game. "Our center combo will be great all year. Tyson's all over the place."
Dallas coach Rick Carlisle expects his team’s defence to improve over last year.
"We are one game in, but our defensive numbers are better than they have been," he said. "It's the foundation for success."
Nowitzki put up 28 points and 13 rebounds in the season opener while Chandler chipped in with eight points and eight rebounds.
"I've got to bring (aggressive play) night in and night out because this team is going to need it," said Chandler. "We have everything else: scorers, guys who finish, so I have to bring defensive intensity
and let my team feed off of it."
The 37-year-old Jason Kidd scored 12 points and had 18 assists for Dallas in their opener.
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