Court Vision: Grizzlies overcome Mavs' 3-point barrage behind bigs inside
MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Going inside Memphis' 114-105 win Tuesday over the Dallas Mavericks, a win so fun Grizzlies' forward Tony Allen found time to dance (see Vine). The Grizzlies are 10-1 at home.
1. Marc Gasol got going in the early going
Grizzlies center Marc Gasol scored two points in Sunday's win over the Miami Heat, making only 1 of 6 from the field.
In an obvious effort to get the Grizzlies leader going early against Dallas, Gasol scored 14 of his 30 points in the first quarter. He got to the line seven times with six makes.
"We tried to go to him early and feed off of him," Memphis coach Dave Joerger said, "and I thought it was pretty effective for our offense."
Gasol got his second dunk in the opening minute of the second quarter. His 4 for 5 first quarter was one reason the Grizzlies were able to overcome Dallas' 37-point quarter, as both teams shot 61.9 percent and the Mavericks hit 7 of 11 from deep.
Sunday, Gasol had seven assists. He had another six Tuesday, made 9 of 14 from the field and 12 of 13 from the line. The loudest assist was a Gasol-esque pass to slicing Tayshaun Prince for a thunderous slam and 83-74 lead.
Gasol appeared to limp a little in the first half on his bruised right knee, but he finished with his fourth game of 30 points or more.
"I think we anticipated the match-ups correctly and we wanted to do some different things," Joerger said. "But also, he didn't feel like he probably played a great game the other night."
On the defensive end, Gasol and Jon Leuer held Dirk Nowitzki to four points on 4 of 17 shooting. Monta Ellis, who was questionable with a right elbow injury, scored two on 1 of 11 against Allen's annoyance. Chandler Parsons made up the difference, tying Gasol with a game-high 30.
2. Texans come a long way to shoot a long way
Dallas made 10 3-pointers. In the first half. By the time it was over, the Mavericks had shot 40 from deep and made 18 of them, 6 of 10 from Parsons. Who does that? Well, the Spurs hit 14 here on Friday, so outside of teams from Texas?
Not Memphis and it didn't matter. For more than one reason. Memphis won the turnover game and the inside game.
The Grizzlies forced 16 turnovers and committed only five, one shy of a franchise low.
"We only had five turnovers," said Allen, looking at the stat he routinely places in his ice bucket. "I ain't have none."
Afford him the chuckle. Memphis is now 17-4 with games against Charlotte and at Philadelphia -- a good chance to be 19-4 -- before a back-to-back against top Western tests Golden State and at San Antonio.
Dallas is behind only Houston in 3-point attempts per game (27.1). The Mavs got a bit too happy behind the line and with a chance to tie the game at 101, JJ. Barea missed from 26 feet. Down 103-99, Barea missed again and Prince drained one on the other end for a seven-point cushion.
"We didn't get enough stops, either," Mavs coach Rick Carlisle said. "We have to shake it off and get ready for tomorrow."
Memphis never faltered, making seven of its average 14 3-point attempts and slammed it inside to Gasol and Zach Randolph, who had 17 points and 13 rebounds. Conley scored 22 on 9 of 13. He is 17 of 21 over two games.
Whether viewers outside Memphis or watching Tuesday on NBA TV think Memphis' style is sexy, Dallas scored 54 points behind the arc ... and lost.
"Our DNA is to bang you and continue to throw it down low," Memphis guard Courtney Lee said. "That's always going to pan out more than knocking down 3s."
Maybe most importantly, Memphis won the third quarter, a season-high 36 points to Dallas' 17 and outscored Dallas 22-0 in the paint in the quarter, 52-26 for the game. Randolph had six offensive boards in the quarter.
3. Turn back the clock, Tayshaun
No current Grizzly has taken more lumps from fans than Tayshaun Prince, but in the last three games the 34-year-old's haters have had to shake it off.
Tay, no relation and probably a little less Swift, scored 11 points on 4 of 9 shooting. He made two of the three 3-pointers he shot in his 29 minutes and had seven rebounds, a pair of assists and a steal. His lively dunk also made fellow vet Vince Carter proud.
In the last three games, Prince is averaging 13.3 points and shooting 52 percent -- 67 percent from behind the arc -- in more than 30 minutes per.
"He's kind of turning back the clock a little bit," Allen said. He's always ready when his number's called."
Allen and Lee both used the term, "true professional." His name in trade talks, his salary questioned and his worth devalued by fans at time, Prince dances on, but not as well as Allen after a turnover.
"I'm an emotional guy. I just had a little wiggle to go with it," Allen said.
Worth the Vine.
0 -- That's how many points Dallas center Tyson Chandler scored in nearly 34 minutes. He had nine rebounds and attempted only one shot for the 3-happy Mavs.
25 of 29 -- Memphis got to the free throw line 29 times and converted 25. Dallas hit 11 of 14.
