Game Preview: Dallas Mavericks vs. Memphis Grizzlies
By Ethan Becker
3. Ja Morant vs. Luka Doncic
For the second time this season, we are missing out on the former Rookie of the Year in Luka Doncic facing the prospective Rookie of the Year for 2020, Ja Morant.
During the last game, Morant sat out and we missed our first chance to see the clash between two of the brightest young stars in the league. Now, for this game, the Mavericks will be without Luka Doncic because of an ankle injury he fell to five days ago.
This is a shame for fans, because in a head-to-head comparison, we see that the battle between Doncic and Morant could be an interesting one. While Doncic is the better offensive player, averaging 28.8 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 8.7 assists per game compared to Morants 17.3/7.1 assists/3.4 rebounds, Morant is the better defensive player, and is more efficient on offense, averaging 49.2 percent shooting from the field and 38.5 percent 3-point shooting compared to Doncic’s 46.4 percent shooting from the field and 32.1 percent shooting from 3-point range.
It will be interesting to see how Morant’s defense will stack up against one of the elite offensive players in the league in Doncic when they do finally face off. Let’s hope that both players are able to perform at their highest level for the last two games.