Ja Morant admitted his injury "was more difficult than others", but he did not want to let it stop him from helping the Memphis Grizzlies reach the NBA playoffs.

He overcame a sprained right ankle to score 22 points, adding nine assists, as the Grizzlies beat the Dallas Mavericks 120-106.

Jaren Jackson Jr. led Memphis with 24 points, with Desmond Bane finishing with 22 as the Grizzlies turned away several Dallas rallies in the second half.

They will meet the Western Conference's top seed, Oklahoma City Thunder, in the best-of-seven series beginning on Sunday.

Morant was injured in Memphis' play-in opener on Tuesday, with his availability for Friday confirmed around half an hour before tip off.

The 25-year-old explained he had an MRI on Thursday, noting how the doctors helped to make sure he would be on the court.

"I feel like this [injury] was more difficult than others," Morant said. "Obviously, regular-season games, it's not win or go home.

"So, this one was way more difficult - the whole process, like, learning what I would have to do to be able to get out there.

"The doctors gave me all the help I needed in the simplest terms. I wanted to be on the floor. I wanted to play this game and get the win."

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Anthony Davis led the Mavs with 40 points and nine rebounds, while Klay Thompson had 18, but they failed to threaten in the closing stages.

Davis is the second player since the NBA-ABA merger to score 40+ points in a winner-take-all play-in or playoff game only to see his team lose by double digits.

He limped off with 5:22 remaining, nursing a sore calf, effectively ending Dallas' attempts at a comeback, saying he "just wanted to leave everything out on the floor, no matter what".

Regardless of Friday's result, Mavs coach Jason Kidd labelled the season as "incredible", given their troubles.

Contending with injuries to big names, along with the shock trade of Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers, Dallas finished the season with a 39-43 record, clinching the West's 10th seed.

"When you look at the injuries that we've had [and] the change, for us to even be here playing in this game tonight, it's incredible," Kidd said.

"It just shows the character of that group in that locker room, the fight, being prepared, moving on, learning from our losses and also our wins.

"So, an incredible season with the change and injuries. Some would say we shouldn't even be here, so give those guys in that locker room a lot of credit."