With a commanding 120–106 victory over the Mavericks on Friday night in Memphis, the Grizzlies clinched the final available playoff berth in the Western Conference, securing the No. 8 seed and setting up a first-round matchup with the conference-leading Oklahoma City Thunder.
Memphis came out firing, scoring the first seven points of the game and racing out to a double-digit lead within the opening five minutes – a gap they never relinquished.
It was a wire-to-wire performance that underscored their urgency and composure with the postseason on the line.
The win was powered by strong outings from the team’s core trio: Jaren Jackson Jr. led all Grizzlies scorers with 24 points and seven rebounds, Ja Morant filled the stat sheet with 22 points, nine assists, and seven boards, and Desmond Bane matched Morant with 22 points and nine assists of his own.
Despite a huge 40-point effort from Mavericks center Anthony Davis, Dallas couldn’t overcome its sluggish start, ending their season in disappointment.
Earlier that evening, the Miami Heat made history by becoming the first No. 10 seed to win two consecutive play-in games and earn a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
But Dallas, also a No. 10 seed, failed to replicate that magic.
The loss capped off a rollercoaster season for the Mavericks, who will now shift their focus to the draft lottery, where they are projected to land either the 11th or 12th pick, depending on the result of a tiebreaker with the Bulls.
Memphis’ win also had implications beyond the playoff bracket. It delivered a valuable reward to the Washington Wizards, who will now receive the Grizzlies’ first-round draft pick, which falls between No. 18 and No. 20, based on a tiebreaker to be resolved Monday.
Had the Grizzlies fallen short on Friday, the pick would have remained protected, and the Wizards would have instead received two future second-rounders.
While the Grizzlies now face a daunting challenge in the 68-win Thunder – arguably the league’s most complete and dynamic team – there’s reason to believe Memphis can compete.
It’s easy to forget that just weeks before the trade deadline, the Grizzlies were one of the West’s top contenders, sitting at the No. 2 seed as late as February 28 and boasting a 35–16 record at that point.
If they can rediscover that version of themselves, their series against Oklahoma City might not be as lopsided as the seeding suggests.
Grizzlies Claim West's Final Playoff Spot https://t.co/geF4QHgAMU pic.twitter.com/CSZUz3AZRb
— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) April 19, 2025
