Spurs need a win against Memphis

San Antonio is one-half game ahead of the Dallas Mavericks for first place in the Southwest Division and the top spot in the Western Conference, while Memphis, which clinched a playoff spot on Saturday because of a loss by the Hornets, is No. 6 and is one-half game behind the fifth-seeded Los Angeles Clippers.

The Spurs play the third of a five-game homestand. On Friday, Dirk Nowitzki scored 19 of his game-high 30 points in the second half, as the Mavericks knocked off the Spurs, 92-86, at the AT&T Center.

Manu Ginobili tallied 22 points in Friday’s loss to lead the Spurs, who have dropped back-to- back contests for the first time since mid-February. Michael Finley and Nick Van Exel both scored 14 for San Antonio, which shot just 37.8 percent from the floor.

San Antonio is 31-6 at home this season. The Spurs will host Seattle on Tuesday and Orlando on Thursday.

Memphis, goes for its fourth straight win. Pau Gasol had a game-high 33 points and 14 rebounds to lead the Grizzlies over the Milwaukee Bucks, 100-90, on Friday at FedExForum.

Chucky Atkins posted 16 points, including 12 in the fourth quarter, and six assists and Lorenzen Wright scored 11 and pulled down 10 boards in the win over Milwaukee for the Grizzlies, who have won 10 of their last 13 games overall.

The Grizzlies are just 16-21 on the road this season. They have dropped two in a row as the visitor.

This is the fourth and final meeting of the season between the teams. The Spurs won the three previous contests and have won four of the last five meetings in this series.

These two teams have split the last six meetings at San Antonio, while the Grizzlies have lost 13 of their last 16 as the visitor against the Spurs.