Grizzlies, Mavericks are two teams heading in wrong direction

The Dallas Mavericks play host to the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday night in a game that will be a reflection of how quickly things can turn.

The Grizzlies spent most of the past two months second in the Western Conference behind runaway leader Oklahoma City. But they will enter the game against the Mavericks in a freefall.

The Grizzlies have dropped four straight and lost seven of their past nine, including Wednesday's lopsided 120-103 home loss to the Thunder. Memphis scored only 48 points in the second half and struggled from beyond the arc throughout, finishing 9-for-34.

Memphis played without all-star forward Jaren Jackson Jr., who is sidelined with a left ankle sprain. Two-time All-Star guard Ja Morant started against the Thunder and had 24 points and six assists, but said afterward he should have rested because of a right shoulder injury.

"I should have been out, but I was out there," Morant said. "Regardless, out or in, there's going to be something said. I think I just said I probably (shouldn't) have played, but I did."

While frustration has set in for the Grizzlies -- considered NBA title contenders with a nucleus of Jackson, Morant and Desmond Bane -- despair has found a home in Dallas.

The Mavericks have lost five of their last six and remain slightly above .500 (32-31). Their struggles began shortly after superstar Luke Doncic was traded in early February to the Los Angeles Lakers in a deal that brought big man Anthony Davis to Dallas.

Davis suffered an adductor strain in his first game with the Mavericks on Feb. 8 and hasn't played since then. On Monday, nine-time All-Star guard Kyrie Irving tore the ACL in his left knee in a loss to the Sacramento Kings, ending his season.

"I mean, this is new territory for everyone," Dallas coach Jason Kidd said. "A lot of people haven't seen this. But again, it is next man up and we are running out of next (men)."

Irving had been the only player in the league averaging at least 20 points (24.7), while shooting 40 percent or better from 3-point range (40.1) and 90 percent or better from the free-throw line (91.6).

With Irving out, teammate Klay Thompson attempted to take up the slack against the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday. He took 27 shots and said he was being aggressive in a difficult environment. He made 11 and led the team with 28 points in a 137-107 defeat.

The Mavericks also are without Daniel Gafford (MCL), Dereck Lively II (right ankle) and Caleb Martin (hip). They had only eight players available on Wednesday.

"We are human," Thompson said. "It is very hard and you have to find joy playing the game and playing for one another. Your character is revealed during the toughest times. It's easy to be high and mighty when you are winning games and you're feeling great.

"But the true test of your character is when things don't go your way and you still show up and you still play hard, you still look for your teammates."

Thompson called Irving's injury a "gut punch" for not only Mavericks fans, but NBA fans worldwide.

"Kyrie has been our rock this year," Thompson said. "It's like an unfillable void. We have to rally around him and play hard for him. That one hurt, though. I know he is going to come back stronger but in the moment it (stinks)."