Mavericks Rest Klay Thompson for Tank Battle vs. Grizzlies

Veteran guard sits out to manage minutes as both teams jockey for draft position.

Published on Mar. 12, 2026

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The Dallas Mavericks and Memphis Grizzlies, two teams near the bottom of the Western Conference standings, will face off in what some are calling a "tank battle" - a matchup where both teams are more focused on developing young talent and securing a better draft position than winning the game. As part of this strategy, the Mavericks have listed veteran guard Klay Thompson as out for rest, after he played 28 minutes and scored 21 points in the team's last game.

Why it matters

The NBA has been known to fine teams that rest healthy star players, so the Mavericks' decision to sit Thompson is noteworthy. Both the Mavericks and Grizzlies are prioritizing player development and draft positioning over winning at this stage of the season.

The details

Thompson, a former All-Star with the Golden State Warriors, has been available for most of the season for the Mavericks. However, after logging his highest minutes total in a while in the last game, the team has decided to rest him for this matchup against the Grizzlies. Meanwhile, the Grizzlies have several players listed as out due to legitimate injuries, not just rest.

  • Klay Thompson played 28 minutes and scored 21 points in the Mavericks' last game against the Atlanta Hawks on March 10, 2026.

The players

Klay Thompson

A veteran guard for the Dallas Mavericks who is being rested for this game against the Grizzlies.

Cooper Flagg

A young player for the Mavericks who fans are interested in seeing more of as the season continues.

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The takeaway

This game between the Mavericks and Grizzlies highlights the NBA's ongoing debate around teams resting healthy players, especially late in the season when playoff positioning and draft order become the priority for many clubs.