The Dallas Mavericks snagged their first NBA Summer League win on Monday night, taking down the Memphis Grizzlies 96-88. It was a seriously balanced effort, with Sergio De Larrea dropping 16 points and pulling down 12 rebounds, and Darin Green Jr. leading the squad with 18 points. This wasn't just any win, either, the Mavericks rolled out an all-overseas-born lineup that clearly paid off.
That All-Overseas Lineup Was No Joke
Early on, it looked like it might be a rough game for Dallas. Memphis was feeding the ball to number three overall pick Cameron Boozer, and with Vsevolod Ishchenko on defense, the pressure was on. But the Mavericks stuck to their guns with strong team defense, pushing hard after every missed Memphis shot, tying the game at 10 halfway through the first. The real surprise? Kaodirichi Akobundu-Ehiogu. He was a force, scoring six points via dunks, flying toward the rim with authority. Dallas pushed that lead to double digits, but Taylor Hendricks hit a flurry of threes to keep Memphis in it. Still, the Mavs were up 24-19 after one period, showing they came to play.Memphis Wouldn't Quit, But Dallas Responded
The second quarter was a straight-up blitz from the Mavericks. They capitalized on Grizzlies misses and turnovers, hitting repeated three-point looks on the break. Dallas was knocking down shot after shot, rebuilding that double-digit lead from the first. But just when it looked like they might run away with it, former Maverick Olivier Maxence-Prosper hit back-to-back threes, cutting the lead to single digits. Memphis kept that rally going, slicing the lead down to just four points by halftime, with Dallas up 50-46. The Grizzlies weren't done, tying the game a few minutes into the third quarter! From there, the two teams exchanged baskets, ties, and leads. Dallas' strong shooting helped them hold off Memphis, taking a 68-65 lead into the final quarter.Clutch Shots When It Mattered Most
Sergio De Larrea's flashy passing paired with Maverick shotmaking kept the Grizzlies at bay for much of the fourth quarter. But Memphis just wouldn't fade, tying the game at 77 with five minutes left. That's when Dallas exploded out of the next timeout, dropping seven straight points, including another rim-rocking putback dunk from Akobundu-Ehiogu. Cameron Boozer hit a corner three to give Memphis a chance, but De Larrea and Darin Green Jr. immediately answered with threes of their own on the ensuing possessions, effectively ending the game. Dallas secured their first Summer League victory, 96-88. What a start for Dallas in Vegas! Seeing Akobundu-Ehiogu soar and that overseas-born lineup gel so fast tells you there's some real talent developing. De Larrea and Green Jr. showed they can lead the offense, and the team defense was legit. Looking forward to seeing if this momentum carries into the rest of their Summer League schedule. This is just the beginning for these guys.This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.