Final
Mavs hand Grizzlies fifth straight loss
Dec 19, 2013 - 5:15 AM Dallas, TX (SportsNetwork.com) - Dirk Nowitzki scored 20 points and the Dallas Mavericks extended the Memphis Grizzlies' recent struggles by cruising to a 105-91 win at American Airlines Center.Monta Ellis added 18 points and Vince Carter chipped in 14 along with six assists in a game Dallas led virtually wire-to-wire en route to a second consecutive victory.
The Mavericks shot nearly 55 percent from the floor while holding the Grizzlies to a 40 percent field goal percentage to improve to 5-2 in December and deal Memphis a season-high fifth straight loss.
"We defended great in the first half," said Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle. "They scored more in the second half, but we were able to stay the course and still outscore them slightly, which is big."
Tony Allen paced the Grizzlies, who played without a pair of starters in point guard Mike Conley and Tayshaun Prince, with 16 points and 11 rebounds. Zach Randolph and Jon Leuer finished with 14 points each in defeat.
The shorthanded Grizzlies were able to hang tough early on, with the game decided by just one point until Dallas put forth an 8-0 run to grab a 30-21 lead just over a minute into the second quarter.
An 11-2 spurt, during which Nowitzki accounted for eight points, extended the margin to 41-27 midway through the period, and Dallas stayed in front by double digits over the remainder of the half to enter the break owning a 52-39 advantage.
Strong defense enabled the Mavericks to lead comfortably at the intermission, with Dallas limiting the Grizzlies to 36.2 percent shooting and forcing nine turnovers that were converted into eight points.
Memphis managed to make some headway in the third quarter, stringing together a 9-1 stretch that was capped by a Mike Miller three that trimmed the deficit to 66-62 with 3:44 to go in the frame. The Mavericks answered with six straight points, though, and entered the fourth quarter still with some breathing room by holding a 78-66 cushion.
The Grizzlies never threatened thereafter, with the lead swelling to 21 points after an Ellis trey with 4:39 left made the score 98-77.
"It was a game where we had to hang in the entire time because Memphis really threw everything they had at us, even though they were back-to-back," said Carlisle.
Game Notes
Both Nowitzki and Carlisle missed Dallas' most recent outing, a 106-93 win over Milwaukee on Saturday, due to illness ... Conley missed a second straight game due to a bruised quadriceps, while Prince is dealing with a sore knee that limited him to just nine minutes in Tuesday's loss to the Lakers ... Dallas went 20-of-23 from the free throw line, compared to a 9-of-14 showing for the Grizzlies ... Memphis fell to 3-9 since center Marc Gasol suffered a sprained knee last month.
Dec 18 10:56 PM- MEMPHIS: 66
DALLAS: 78
End of 3rd
Dec 18 10:25 PM - MEMPHIS: 39
DALLAS: 52
Halftime
Dec 18 9:39 PM - MEMPHIS: 21
DALLAS: 27
End of 1st
Dec 18 9:07 PM - MEMPHIS: 0
DALLAS: 0
1st Quarter - 11:46
Dec 18 8:42 PM
Related News
- Mavs Tuesday Donuts: 'Cause Two Out Of Three Ain't Bad Jun 16
- The WNBA Announces Plans To Begin Their Season In July Jun 15
- Three Names Have Risen To The Top For The Detroit Pistons General Manager Job Jun 15
- Shammgod On His Puma Shoe - And His '3 S's' Of Life Jun 15
- PODCAST: Anthony Sain From Sports Illustrated's AllGrizzlies With Drew Hill From The Daily Memphian Jun 15
- Monday Mavs Donuts: The NBA IS Still Returning... Right? Jun 15
- NBA & COVID-19: 'Death Has Never Been On The Table' - Mavs GM Donnie Nelson Jun 15
- 'Happy Places': Boban Describes Mavs Work In The Gym Jun 15
- Popovich Blasts NFL and Jerry Jones for 'Hypocritical' Trump Support Jun 15
- Dr. Anthony Fauci Says That He Thinks That The NBA's "Bubble Campus" Idea Can Work Jun 14
- Several NBA Players Approaching Free-Agency Are Seeking Insurance In Case Of Incidents In Orlando Jun 14
- Memphis Grizzlies' Ja Morant Takes Bold Stance Against A Confederate Statue In Murray, Kentucky Jun 14