Jackson scores 28 as Grizzlies rally late to defeat Mavs

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Jaren Jackson Jr. scored28 points, including a key layup with 17 seconds left as theMemphis Grizzlies defeated the Dallas Mavericks 112-108 on Mondaynight in Ja Morant’s first game back with the team after aneight-game league suspension.

Santi Aldama added 22 for Memphis and Desmond Bane finished with17 as Memphis won its sixth in the last seven.

Kyrie Irving led the Mavericks with 28 points, but missed alleight of his shots in the fourth quarter as Memphis outscoredDallas 29-12 in the period.

Morant did not dress for the game but was on the Memphis bench,coming out to a hearty ovation from the fans just before tipoff.The NBA assessed the suspension after a video from a Denver-areastrip club earlier this month showed Morant brandishing a gun.

Meanwhile, the Mavericks were again without leading-scorer LukaDoncic, who missed his fifth game with left thigh soreness.

That left the Dallas offensive surge to Irving, picked up in atrade deadline deal, along with Christian Wood, who scored 20.

Dallas built its lead to 16 points in the third quarter, butMemphis crafted a 24-7 run in the fourth, and the game settled intoan exchange of leads for both teams.

The game was tight through the first half with seven ties andthree lead changes before the Mavericks carried a 60-57 lead intohalftime, led by 20 points from Irving. The third quarter belongedto Dallas, stretching lead to 96-83 as Hardy scored 10 in thestanza, while the Mavericks shot 62%.

TIP-INS

Mavericks: While Doncic missed his fifth game with a left thighstrain, it marked the eighth time in 17 games since acquiringIrving at the trade deadline that one or both of the All-Stars hasbeen out. ... Davis Bertans’ 3-pointer in the second quarter wasthe 800th of his career.

Grizzlies: Dillon Brooks picked up a technical foul for tauntingafter a dunk. It was his 18th of the season, and per league rules,he will be suspended for Wednesday’s game against Houston. ...Memphis is 11-2 against the Southwest Division, with the onlylosses coming to Dallas and the New Orleans Pelicans.

UP NEXT

Mavericks: Host Golden State on Wednesday night.

Grizzlies: Play the first of consecutive home games againstHouston on Wednesday night.