In the first game since the happy ending against the Los Angeles Lakers, the Dallas Mavericks suffered a setback and slipped back out of direct playoff spots.
The team around national basketball player Maxi Kleber lost to the Memphis Grizzlies 108:112 on Monday evening and slipped to seventh place in the Western Conference. Only the top six teams are guaranteed to qualify for the playoffs, teams from seventh to tenth place have to go into the so-called play-in.
The Mavericks gave up a 16-point lead in the final quarter and scored just 12 points. “That’s not enough, we have to be better offensively,” said coach Jason Kidd. Kyrie Irving had 28 points but missed a shot in the last quarter. Kleber had two points and eight rebounds. Against the Lakers he had hit the shot to win on Friday when the clock was running out.
Warriors benefit from defeat
For the Grizzlies, who moved up to second place in the Western Conference after the Sacramento Kings lost 120-128 at the Utah Jazz, Jaren Jackson Jr. was the top pitcher with 28 points. Ja Morant would have been eligible to play again after his eight-game suspension but was still rested.
The Golden State Warriors benefited from the bankruptcy of the Mavericks. The defending champion won his away game at the Houston Rockets 121-108 and is back in sixth place in the Western Conference.
In the Eastern Conference, the Philadelphia 76ers lost their last eight wins. The 105:109 after double overtime against the Chicago Bulls prevented them from qualifying for the playoffs. The 76ers slipped into third place behind the Boston Celtics.
The New York Knicks around Isaiah Hartenstein lost after three wins 134:140 against the Minnesota Timberwolves, who are very close to the Mavericks again. Hartenstein scored five points, the Knicks are still fifth in the East.
