NBA GAME RECAP

Conley and Green lead Grizzlies to 110-96 victory over Mavericks

The Sports Xchange

November 24, 2015 at 10:40 pm.

Nov 24, 2015; Memphis, TN, USA; Memphis Grizzlies guard Mike Conley (11) dribbles the ball as Dallas Mavericks guard Deron Williams (8) defends during the second quarter at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports

Nov 24, 2015; Memphis, TN, USA; Memphis Grizzlies guard Mike Conley (11) dribbles the ball as Dallas Mavericks guard Deron Williams (8) defends during the second quarter at FedExForum. Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports

MEMPHIS — Guard Mike Conley scored 21 points and forward Jeff Green added 19 to lead the Memphis Grizzlies to a 110-96 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday night at FedExForum.

Green, who returned to the starting lineup five games ago, scored eight of his points in the third quarter as the Grizzlies turned a 10-point halftime lead into a 22-point advantage. Memphis led by as many as 25 early in the fourth quarter.

J.J. Barea and Raymond Felton each scored 16 off the bench to lead the Mavericks. Dirk Nowitzki finished with a double-double of 14 points and 10 rebounds, but struggled shooting (5-of-15). Zaza Pachulia also had a double-double (13 points, 10 rebounds).

Playing without forward Zach Randolph, who missed his third straight game with right knee soreness, the Grizzlies were beaten on the boards, but survived behind a dominating performance in the paint.

The Grizzlies finished with a 48 paint points, 26 more than the Mavs. Memphis also was aided by 19 Dallas turnovers.

Green started a 14-4 run to end the third quarter with a follow slam and followed, a possession later, with a reverse dunk off an assist from Matt Barnes. The Grizzlies led 82-60 at the end of the third quarter.

Memphis increased its advantage to 25 to open the final period when JaMychal Green dropped in a 3-pointer. The Mavericks eventually rallied to trim the margin to 10 points on two occasions midway through the quarter, before Memphis re-established control.

In the first half, the Grizzlies built a 14-point lead by taking advantage of poor shooting by Nowitzki (3-of-9) and the Mavs (13-of-39). Ahead 21-17 entering the second quarter, the Grizzlies scored 12 of the period’s first 14 points and led, 33-19, on a 20-footer by Mario Chalmers.

A few minutes later, a 10-0 Mavs’ run quickly trimmed the Memphis lead to three points (37-34). The run was ignited by an unlikely source: 3-pointers. Dallas had missed 10 of 11 3-pointers before the run, but Nowitzki and Wesley Matthews drained long-range shots to start the rally.

The Grizzlies closed the half with seven straight points, including a 3-pointer by Conley with 3.4 seconds to go for a 46-36 lead.

Memphis didn’t shoot much better in the half (37 percent) and was as inaccurate from beyond the arc (2-of-10). The Grizzlies, however, made up for their lackluster shooting with 22 points in the paint.

NOTES: Mavericks F/C Dwight Powell has had a strong start to the season. The reserve, in his second NBA season, is averaging 10.4 points and 7.1 rebounds. “He worked extremely hard over the summer,” said coach Rick Carlisle. “He did a great job in the summer league out in (Las) Vegas. This summer kind of got him started.” … Grizzlies coach Dave Joerger said it’s still uncertain as to when reserve F/C Brandan Wright will return. Wright, out with a sore right knee, missed his eighth straight game Tuesday. “It could be a while,” Joerger said. “And then (we’ll) try to get back into a rhythm. It might be almost like starting over from training camp.” … The Grizzlies entered the game ranked first in the league in free-throw percentage (.836). The NBA record of .832 was set in 1989-90 by the Boston Celtics. … In four starts against the Grizzlies during the 2014-15 season, Mavs F Chandler Parsons averaged 19 points in 33.8 minutes.

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