Grizzlies fall to Chandler-led Mavericks in preseason play

By foxsports
Published

DALLAS -- Tyson Chandler's off-season work on his shot was apparent on Monday night.

Chandler scored 14 points and added a game-high eight rebounds in the Dallas Mavericks' 108-103 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies.

The center's eight points in the first quarter included two jump shots from near the foul line.

"I've been working on it," Chandler said. "The coach has the confidence in me to call it and draw it up."

Monta Ellis also had 14 points for Dallas, which had seven players in double figures, including all five starters.

Chandler Parsons and Jameer Nelson had 11 each and Dirk Nowitzki added 10. Off the bench, Richard Jefferson scored 13 and Al-Farouq Aminu 12.

"They have more talent, they are hard as heck to guard, they have multiple combinations of players that can really score the basket at any time," said Grizzlies' coach Dave Joerger. "The team is one of the best teams in the West."

Quincy Pondexter scored 18 points to lead Memphis. Marc Gasol added 17 points.

Because of earlier injuries to Nowitzki and Ellis, the Mavericks played with their regular starters for just the second time this preseason.

Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle said, "We have to make the best of the time. We have veterans out there, so it is an easier process for those guys to get to know one another, and we kept things very simple."

Dallas scored the first seven points, but the Grizzlies chipped away behind Gasol, who had 13 points and five rebounds in the first quarter. Memphis tied the score at 27 on Vince Carter's free throw with 32 seconds left in the first quarter.

Memphis shot only 33 percent in the second quarter and Dallas gradually built a 13-point advantage. Nelson scored the Mavericks' last seven points of the half for a 57-44 lead.

Parsons had all 11 of his points in the first half.

The Grizzlies heated up after halftime, making their first five shots from the field to pull within 62-55. Nowitzki then made a 3-point play as Dallas regained control. The Mavericks led by 19 points at 91-72 entering the fourth quarter.

TIP-INS

Grizzlies: Guard Courtney Lee didn't play in the second half after mildly spraining his right ankle in the first half. . Carter, who played the last three seasons for the Mavericks, returned to Dallas for the first time and had three points and two rebounds in 8 minutes.

Mavericks: Guard Raymond Felton (sprained right ankle) missed his fourth straight game. ... Dallas' starting lineup returned after sitting out Saturday's game at Indiana. Only Parsons and Ellis played more than half of the game. ... The victory evened Dallas' preseason record at 3-3.