Grizzlies 103, Mavericks 97
DALLAS -- Keyon Dooling sparked a fourth-quarter surge and the Memphis Grizzlies topped the Dallas Mavericks 103-97 Monday night at American Airlines Center.
Dooling, signed less than two weeks ago, drilled four 3-pointers in the final period to break open what had been a close game. The lead changed hands 13 times in the second half before the Grizzlies got some breathing room. A four-point play keyed an 8-0 run that gave Memphis an 85-78 advantage.
Memphis, still in running for the homecourt edge in the first round of the playoffs, improved to 55-26 and plays host to Utah on Wednesday. Dallas (40-41) ends its season with Wednesday's home game against New Orleans.
Jerryd Bayless paced the Grizzlies with 19 points off the bench, with Dooling adding 13. Another reserve, Ed Davis, scored 11. Tayshaun Prince (12 points) was the only starter in double figures.
Dirk Nowitzki led all scorers with 26 points. Dallas swingman Vince Carter had 22 points off the bench, and passed Clyde Drexler for 27th place on the league's all-time scoring list.
The Grizzlies won the season series against Dallas, 3-1, and snapped a streak of six straight games between the Southwest Division rivals won by the home team.
Memphis opened the second half with a 13-4 burst to take its first lead of the game at 51-50. Turnovers by the Mavs aided the Grizzlies' spurt, including a steal and breakaway dunk by Tony Allen to put the visitors on top. Memphis went in the fourth up 68-67.
Carter was mixing up 3-pointers and drives to the basket in the second quarter as the Mavericks rebuilt their lead back to double digits. The Grizzlies clamped down defensively and closed the gap to 46-38 at the break.
Carter had 15 points at the half, while Bayless scored nine for Memphis. The Grizzlies and Mavericks were both shooting in low 40s at intermission.
The Mavericks took advantage of Memphis turnovers early to run out to a 27-17 lead, with Mike James scoring a quick nine points. Dallas took a 29-21 into the second period on the strength of 55 percent shooting.
NOTES: The bombings Monday at the Boston Marathon struck close to home for Dallas coach Rick Carlisle. "It's sickening. Tragic," said Carlisle, who began his NBA career with the Celtics. "A terrible, terrible thing. They used to run [the Boston Marathon] right by my place. I used to live on Commonwealth Avenue my first year." ... Memphis came into Monday with a 25-10 record since the trade that added Prince in January. ... Nowitzki played his first home game since becoming the 17th player in NBA history to score at least 25,000 career points. ... Despite missing the playoffs, the Mavericks can still extend their streak of nonlosing seasons to 13. Dallas went 40-42 in 1999-2000, it's last losing season. Mark Cuban bought the franchise in January of that season.
