The Memphis Grizzlies suffered their first loss of Las Vegas Summer League play on Monday, falling to the Dallas Mavericks 96-88.
The Memphis Grizzlies suffered their first loss of Las Vegas Summer League play on Monday, falling to the Dallas Mavericks 96-88.
The defeat leaves the Grizzlies with an uphill battle if they hope to push for the Summer League crown.
It was not a very efficient day for Memphis. The team shot just 37.2 percent from the field, 28.6 percent from beyond the arc and 50.0 percent from the free-throw line.
No. 3 overall pick Cameron Boozer did what he could. He finished with 21 points, eight rebounds, three assists and three steals in what was his second straight game eclipsing the 20-point mark. He wasn't terribly efficient himself, however, finishing 7-for-17 from the field and 2-for-8 from deep.
Elsewhere for the Grizzlies, rising sophomore Cedric Coward stuffed the stat sheet with a 17-point, 12-rebound double-double to go along with four assists. But he couldn't get into much of a shooting rhythm, finishing 7-for-23 from the floor and 2-for-9 from long range.
The only other player to finish with double digits for Memphis was forward Olivier-Maxence Prosper. He had 18 points, five rebounds and two assists while shooting 7-for-14 from the field and 4-for-9 from 3.
Only four teams advance to the Summer League playoffs in Vegas, which makes any setback a tough one to overcome for teams hoping to take home the title. Currently, there are five undefeated teams left in the mix, and the Grizzlies are among a laundry list of one-loss teams.
But whether Memphis ends up in the bracket or not, the team is still guaranteed to play at least three more games before the Summer League fun comes to an end. The next matchup will come against the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday, and after that will be a date with the Atlanta Hawks on Thursday. One other game will be added to the Grizzlies' schedule if they do miss the playoffs.
Results don't necessarily mean a ton in the summer, but it would be nice for Memphis to get in the win column a couple more times before the Vegas slate ends, especially after finishing just 1-2 in Salt Lake City.
Either way, there has been a lot to like about what the team's young talent has shown, and there will be plenty more of that once the 2026-27 season gets going in a few months. The future appears bright for the franchise as it looks to turn the corner on a disappointing few years.
