Grizzlies Seek Season Sweep Over Struggling Mavericks

Dallas has dropped 18 of its last 20 games as it heads to Memphis on Thursday.

Published on Mar. 12, 2026

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The Dallas Mavericks have fallen into a tailspin, losing 8 straight and 18 of their last 20 games. They'll look to turn things around on the road against the Memphis Grizzlies, who have already beaten them 3 times this season. Dallas rookie Cooper Flagg has struggled with injuries and consistency, but coach Jason Kidd remains confident in his potential. Meanwhile, the Grizzlies have also hit a rough patch, losing 5 straight and 12 of their last 15 games due to injuries and load management issues.

Why it matters

This matchup features two teams heading in opposite directions late in the season. The Mavericks are trying to right the ship and build momentum heading into the playoffs, while the Grizzlies are looking to regain their early-season form. The outcome could impact playoff seeding and momentum for both squads.

The details

The Mavericks' struggles have come despite the presence of rookie standout Cooper Flagg, who has spent time at both point guard and wing this season. Coach Jason Kidd has defended his decision to play Flagg at the point, noting that position designations are less rigid in today's NBA. For Memphis, they'll be shorthanded again with several key players out, but they'll look to rookie Cedric Coward to provide a boost after his strong recent play.

  • The Mavericks have lost 8 straight and 18 of their last 20 games.
  • The Grizzlies have lost 5 straight and 12 of their last 15 games.

The players

Cooper Flagg

A rookie first-round pick out of Duke, Flagg has spent time at both point guard and wing for the Mavericks this season as they work to develop his versatile skill set.

Jason Kidd

The Mavericks' head coach, who has defended his decision to play Flagg at the point guard position, noting that position designations are less rigid in today's NBA.

Cedric Coward

A Grizzlies rookie who has impressed since returning from a knee injury, providing a boost for a Memphis team dealing with multiple injuries and load management issues.

Tuomas Iisalo

The Grizzlies' head coach, who was pleased with his team's aggressiveness on the offensive boards in their recent loss to the 76ers despite the defeat.

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What they’re saying

“People who are critical never played. I've seen it. I saw it in Milwaukee (with Kidd's use of Giannis Antetokounmpo). People might have been critical there, too. If you're challenging or trying to change or help someone become successful, there are going to be critics. You need critics because critics are not always right. That's just the nature of the beast.”

— Jason Kidd, Mavericks Head Coach (yournews.com)

“There is no limit on this young man. Time and strength. Once he gets those two, it's over.”

— Jason Kidd, Mavericks Head Coach (yournews.com)

“I was in a great rhythm when I got hurt. Now it's about finding my rhythm and getting my (shooting) touch back.”

— Cooper Flagg, Mavericks Rookie (yournews.com)

“One thing I think we didn't do really well (against 76ers), we weren't very disruptive defensively. We didn't pick up enough. We didn't get enough friction in the backcourt. We only forced 10 turnovers. But I do think we did a great job on the offensive boards with a very small squad.”

— Tuomas Iisalo, Grizzlies Head Coach (yournews.com)

What’s next

The Mavericks will look to end their 8-game losing streak and avoid a season sweep at the hands of the Grizzlies when the two teams meet on Thursday night in Memphis.

The takeaway

This matchup between the struggling Mavericks and the injury-depleted Grizzlies highlights the challenges of maintaining consistency and momentum late in the NBA season. Both teams will be looking to regain their footing and build positive momentum heading into the playoffs.