Mavericks bounce back with big win over Grizzlies
DALLAS (AP) -- Dirk Nowitzki scored 20 points, leading the Dallas Mavericks past the Memphis Grizzlies 97-88 Friday night.
Chandler Parsons had 16 points and Zaza Pachulia got 10 points and 18 rebounds for Dallas. Reserve big men Javale McGee and Charlie Villanueva each added 10 points against one of the league's best front lines.
Mike Conley scored 20 points and Marc Gasol had 16 for Memphis, which lost for the fourth time in its last five games.
Coming out of a Memphis timeout, Villanueva spotted up for a 3-pointer to give the Mavericks their biggest lead of the night to that point, 73-58.
The Grizzlies used a 10-2 run to cut the lead to 75-68, but two more defensive breakdowns led to wide open corner 3s by Parsons and Raymond Felton for an 83-70 lead that Dallas extended to as many as 18 points.
Memphis led for most of the first half as the Mavericks started 2 of 13 from the field. But consecutive 3-pointers by J.J. Barea, Felton and Deron Williams gave Dallas its first lead at 38-35.
Williams went on to hit three free throws after Matt Barnes committed a costly shooting foul on his desperation 3-point shot with only 0.2 seconds left in the half. Williams' foul shots gave the Mavericks a 55-49 halftime lead.
TIP-INS
Grizzlies: Memphis was without guard Tony Allen for the fourth straight game due to a right knee injury. ... The Grizzlies wore throwback uniforms commemorating the 1974-75 Memphis Sounds of the ABA.
Mavericks: Devin Harris missed the game with a right hamstring strain suffered on Wednesday against Indiana. Coach Rick Carlisle said before the game that the injury was not serious but there was no timetable for Harris' return. . With his two free throws in the first quarter, Nowitzki passed Adrian Dantley for eighth place on the NBA's all-time free throws made list. ... Pachulia recorded his 15th double-double of the season, the same number he had all of last year.
UP NEXT
Grizzlies: Host Indiana on Saturday.
Mavericks: Travel to Toronto on Tuesday.
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