MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Dirk Nowitzki scored 36 points, including a 3-pointer to
send the game into overtime and six points in the extra period, to lead the
Dallas Mavericks to a 94-89 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday for a
3-0 lead in the first-round series.
The Grizzlies, still without a postseason victory, slowed the Dallas offense
that had overpowered them in first two games and held off the Mavericks until
late in regulation. However, Nowitzki and the Mavs were simply too much.
Dallas outscored Memphis 18-13 in overtime, led by Nowitzki and Jason Terry
who had five points in the extra period to finish with 22. Game 4 is Monday in
Memphis.
Pau Gasol, the Grizzlies' scoring leader who has struggled against the
Mavericks, scored 16 points ¡ª two in overtime.
Chucky Atkins had 20 points to lead Memphis, but missed the Grizzlies' final
shot in regulation on an attempted layup.
The Grizzlies dropped to 0-11 in the playoffs, the longest losing streak of
any playoff team before a first postseason victory. They also tied the NBA
record for consecutive playoff losses set by Denver in 1994. Memphis, in the
playoffs for the third time in franchise history, was swept last year by Phoenix
and the year before by San Antonio.
Josh Howard had 16 points Jerry Stackhouse added 10 for Dallas.
Eddie Jones scored 14 for Memphis. Hakim Warrick scored 11, and Shane Battier
and Lorenzen Wright added 10 each. Wright also had 10 rebounds.
After trailing from the first quarter, Dallas took a 69-67 lead with 5:39
left in the final period on back-to-back jumpers by Nowitzki.
He scored six of the Mavericks' final eight points in third quarter, the last
two from the free-throw line, to pull Dallas to 61-60.
Warrick, fouled by Devin Harris with less than 1 second left in the first
half, hit two free throws to give Memphis a 46-38 advantage at the break.