Nowitzki, Mavericks ground Grizzlies

Jason Terry scored 23 points for Dallas, which has won four straight and set a franchise record by winning its 13th consecutive home game. Jerry Stackhouse added 12 points in the victory.

Pau Gasol and Bobby Jackson both netted 18 points for the Grizzlies, who saw their four-game winning streak halted. Chucky Atkins contributed 12 points while Shane Battier added 11 points and seven rebounds in the losing effort.

The Grizzlies controlled the early action and jumped out to a 31-22 lead after the first quarter.

In the second, Dallas began to close the gap. After Nowitzki’s three-point play with 3:19 to go in the first half brought the Mavs within 50-37, the hosts scored 10 of the final 16 first-half points to close within nine, 56-47, at the break.

The Mavericks took over as the third period unfolded, scoring 10 of the first 12 points in the frame. A three-pointer by Nowitzki after three minutes had elapsed brought Dallas within one, 58-57, before a pull-up jumper by Terry soon after finally gave the Mavs the lead.

Nowitzki continued to shine, as his three-point play at the 7:06 mark put Dallas ahead 61-58. With 4:40 remaining in the quarter, Jackson’s triple kept the Grizzlies close, 67-65. But when a Nowitzki jumper from the right wing went through the basket, along with the ensuing foul shot, Dallas led 70-65 with under two minutes to go.

Midway through the final stanza, Terry’s layup kept the Mavericks lead in tact at 85-82 with 6:20 remaining. Solid Dallas defense and jumpers by Stackhouse and Nowitzki over the next several minutes gave Dallas a 91-82 lead with 3:45 to go.

Jackson then drove the lane on the other end and his three-point play cut the visitors deficit to six. The teams then traded baskets — a Nowitzki jumper in transition followed by a sky hook from Gasol — before a layup by Devin Harris put the Mavs ahead 95-87 with 2:20 remaining in regulation.

With over a minute to go, Gasol missed a pair of foul shots before a nice block by Nowitzki helped seal the victory.

Game Notes

Dallas forward Josh Howard sprained his right ankle and did not return. He is considered day-to-day...Dallas is now 24-4 at home this season...Memphis fell to 3-11 in its last 14 road contests...The Mavericks have captured eight of the last nine meetings with Memphis, which is 4-18 all-time at Dallas...The Mavericks shot 60 percent from three-point range and won the battle on the glass, 41-36.