Tip-off: Friday, 8:35 p.m. ET
Line: Dallas -6.5

The Grizzlies and Mavericks will be fighting for their playoff positioning when they meet in Dallas on Friday.

The Grizzlies are coming off of a 108-92 victory as 3.5-point home favorites against the Bulls on Tuesday. Memphis really needed that victory, as the team had lost six straight games before winning that one. The Grizzlies have, however, covered in two of their past three contests. The Mavericks, meanwhile, are red-hot at the moment. Dallas has won five straight games and the team has also covered in seven of its past 10. The Mavericks are getting it done on the defensive end, as they have allowed their opponent to shoot 45% or better from the floor in just one of the past five contests. Dallas is 2-1 both SU and ATS when facing Memphis this season. The Mavericks also happen to be 16-5 ATS in home games after a combined score of 175 points or less in two straight games since 1996. Memphis continues to be without C Marc Gasol (Foot), PG Mike Conley (Achilles) and PF Brandan Wright (Knee) for the rest of the season. PG Deron Williams (Abdominal) is out indefinitely for the Mavericks, who are already without SF Chandler Parsons (Knee) for the season.

The Grizzlies have already secured a playoff spot this year and if they are going to do any damage then PF Zach Randolph (15.3 PPG, 7.9 RPG) is going to need to carry this team. Randolph was an animal against Chicago last game, finishing with 27 points, 10 boards, four assists and two steals. The Grizzlies will feed him often against Dallas and this game is very important for seeding purposes. One guy that might just be able to help Randolph is SF Vince Carter (6.5 PPG). Carter has been playing extremely well for Memphis lately, averaging 12.6 PPG and 3.6 RPG on 46.8% shooting from the floor and 47.1% shooting from three. He has been on fire from deep and will need to keep it up moving forward. SF Matt Barnes (9.9 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 1.0 SPG) must also play well for Memphis from here on out. He’s a very good two-way player and if he can knock down some threes then the Grizzlies may be able to upset Dallas in this one.

The Mavericks are on fire recently, but this team is still fighting for a spot in the playoffs. One guy that has been putting the team on his back is PG J.J. Barea (11.1 PPG, 4.1 APG). Over the past five games, Barea is averaging 24.2 PPG and 7.0 APG on 53.9% shooting from the floor and 50.0% shooting from three. His speed is giving defenders a lot of trouble and he has been on fire from the outside as well. He should be able to light up a Grizzlies team that struggles to cover point guards. One guy who needs to get it going for Dallas is PF Dirk Nowitzki (18.3 PPG, 6.5 RPG). The superstar is averaging just 12.0 PPG on 27.4% shooting from the field over the past five games and that is not going to cut it as Dallas looks into the postseason. He’ll also really need to play well against Randolph in this one or the Mavericks will have no chance.