Ja plays through injury as Grizz lock up 8-seed

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Ja Morant overcame a sprained right ankle to score 22 points and add nine assists and the Memphis Grizzlies beat the Dallas Mavericks 120-106 on Friday night to advance to the NBA playoffs.

Jaren Jackson Jr. scored 24 points and Desmond Bane added 22 as the Grizzlies turned away several Dallas rallies in the second half.

Memphis secured the Western Conference's 8-seed and will open against top-seeded Oklahoma City in a best-of-seven series beginning Sunday on the Thunder's home court. The Grizzlies have lost nine straight to the Thunder by an average of 16.9 points per game, including four straight by double figures this season.

Anthony Davis led the Mavericks with 40 points and nine rebounds, but limped off in the fourth quarter with what appeared to be a right calf injury. He returned briefly, but didn't finish the game. Klay Thompson added 18 points.

Sources told ESPN that Morant underwent an MRI on Thursday to determine the severity of his ankle sprain, and that he received an injection to attempt to alleviate the pain. He received another pain-killing injection Friday, sources said.

Morant delivered a thrilling start that included a high-flying, one-handed slam dunk that had Bane yelling "Showtime!" at him in celebration as Morant elevated so high his eyes were level with the rim.

"I couldn't feel it ... so I was out there," Morant, who scored 16 points in the first half, said of his sprained ankle.

Morant had been listed as questionable earlier Friday as the training staff worked to get him ready to play. His status was officially announced about 30 minutes before the tip.

Morant was injured in the third quarter Tuesday night at Golden State with the No. 7 seed on the line. Morant rolled the ankle coming down on Buddy Hield's foot. Morant limped off the court and returned in the fourth quarter when he was held to four points as the Grizzlies lost 121-116.

Friday night, Morant occasionally limped to the free throw line, but that was about the only sign he was playing hurt. He finished with 9 rebounds, 7 assists and 3 steals before interim coach Tuomas Iisalo pulled his starters in the final couple of minutes to get some rest.

Morant wound up playing 33 minutes, helping the Grizzlies finish off a wire-to-wire win.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.