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Mavericks top Grizzlies

Feb 6, 2014 - 6:04 AM Memphis, TN (SportsNetwork.com) - Dirk Nowitzki scored a game-high 26 points, as the Dallas Mavericks used a strong second half to surge past the Memphis Grizzlies, 110-96, on Wednesday at FedExForum.

Brandan Wright tallied 17 points off the bench, while Samuel Dalembert and Monta Ellis each supplied 14 points for the Mavericks, who have won three straight games.

Both teams shot over 50 percent from the floor, but the difference came in the paint, where Dallas outscored Memphis by a 56-32 margin.

"To get 50 points in the paint on them is impressive," Nowitzki said. "It means we were driving the ball and we were sharing. Anytime we hold our own on the boards and almost double them on the points in the paint, that's a fantastic job for us."

Zach Randolph paced the Grizzlies with 25 points and nine rebounds, while Courtney Lee contributed 22 points for Memphis, which has lost two straight on the heels of a six-game win streak.

Memphis led 26-21 after one and 55-52 at the break before the Mavericks used a 9-1 surge early in the third to grab their first lead of the game at 61-58.

It remained a one-possession game from there until DeJuan Blair and Devin Harris hit back-to-back jumpers to spark a 7-1 swing that Vince Carter capped with a 3-pointer for a 78-72 Dallas lead after three frames.

The Mavericks continued the spurt in the fourth, as Nowitzki and Carter each scored four in a 12-4 burst that Wright finished with a three-point play that gave the visitors a 90-76 lead with 8:27 to play.

Dallas held Memphis at bay from there, never allowing the Grizzlies to get closer than 10 the rest of the way.

"They burned us," Memphis center Marc Gasol admitted. "They burned us in everything we tried, especially in the fourth."

The Mavericks allowed Memphis to shoot 60.6 percent (20-of-33) from the floor in the first half, but received 12 points apiece from Nowitzki and Wright to remain within striking distance at halftime.

Game Notes

Dallas improved to 3-0 against the Grizzlies this season ... Memphis had won five straight at home against the Mavs ... The Grizzlies dropped to 13-14 at home this season ... Nick Calathes scored 16 for Memphis ... Dalembert added 10 boards, while Carter registered 13 points and seven assists ... Memphis shot 53.6 percent from the floor, while Dallas went 53.8 percent from the floor.