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Surging Mavs collide with Grizzlies

Mar 6, 2011 - 3:55 PM (Sports Network) - The sizzling Dallas Mavericks shoot for their ninth straight win Sunday when they welcome the playoff-hopeful Memphis Grizzlies to Big D.

The Mavs kept rolling on Friday when Dirk Nowitzki poured in 29 points and missed just twice from the floor, leading Dallas to its eighth consecutive victory, 116-108, over Indiana.

Nowitzki went 10-of-12 from the field and 9-of-10 from the foul line as the Mavericks posted their ninth straight home win. Jason Terry tallied 21 points off the bench and Jason Kidd totaled 15 points for Dallas, winners in 18 of its last 19 contests.

Despite playing without starting center Tyson Chandler (sprained right ankle), the Mavericks won at home over the Pacers for the 11th time in the last 12 such meetings. Chandler is expected to remain out tonight.

"He's been our closer in the fourth quarter," Nowitzki said of Terry. "We're trying to get him going some a little earlier but he makes big shots for us and makes things happen. It was fun to watch and I'm glad we closed out the fourth quarter and got the win."

The Grizzlies, meanwhile, are coming off a tough home loss to New Orleans on Friday when Chris Paul ended with 23 points and 14 assists, and Willie Green provided a late spark in the Hornets' 98-91 victory over Memphis.

Zach Randolph had 20 points and 11 boards for the Grizzlies, who have dropped two of three. O.J. Mayo had 13 points and six assists for Memphis.

"I don't think we came out with a lot of energy from the start and that's why we lost the game," said Randolph.

The Mavs have traditionally owned the Grizzlies and have never lost a season- series to the franchise but could tonight with a loss. The teams have split their season series twice since the Grizz debuted in Vancouver back in 1995-96. So far this season, Memphis has taken two of three from Dallas.