Dallas dumps Grizzlies

Nowitzki finished 7-of-15 from the floor and was a perfect 10-for-10 from the foul line.

Jason Terry scored 19 points and Devin Harris added 12 for the Mavericks, who defeated Memphis, 115-103, on Friday and have won five straight after starting the season 0-4.

Rudy Gay led the Grizzlies with 23 points on 9-of-15 shooting with seven boards. Chucky Atkins had 17 points and Lawrence Roberts added 11 off the bench.

Memphis, which shot just 36 percent from the field, has dropped 11 of its last 12 in Dallas.

The Mavericks trailed for most of the first quarter until Nowitzki’s free throw and tip-in put them up by three at the 2:59 mark. Maurice Ager then drained a jumper before Damon Stoudamire countered with the same to make it a 22-18 contest after one quarter of play.

The game remained tight in the second with each team trading the lead. Nowitzki’s fadeaway jumper gave Dallas a seven-point advantage with 4:02 to play, but Memphis answered with nine straight points. Atkins hit a jump shot to cap a 28-point quarter for the Grizzlies, who led 46-44 at the half.

The Mavericks continued to fight in the third, keeping the game close until Greg Buckner’s three with 11 seconds remaining gave them the lead and ignited a spark in the Dallas offense that lasted throughout the final frame.

Erick Dampier’s dunk opened up a 10-point advantage late in the fourth, but Memphis cut within three on a running jumper by Mike Miller with 32 seconds left. Harris then drained a layup for the five-point edge with 11 seconds to play.

Game Notes

Dallas shot 46.3 percent from the floor and 52.9 percent from three-point range...Dampier finished with 10 points...Dallas’ Jerry Stackhouse missed the game due to a strained right groin...The Mavs improved to 37-7 in the all-time series with the Grizzlies...Attendance was 20,535.