The Dallas Mavericks are back in Big D and will commence a four-game homestand Saturday night versus the Southwest Division-rival Memphis Grizzlies at American Airlines Center.
The Mavericks ended a four-game losing streak with a 117-112 overtime triumph against the Sacramento Kings and outscored the hosts, 16-11, in the extra period. O.J. Mayo had 24 points, 10 rebounds and five assists, while Vince Carter scored 23 points for Dallas, which won for only the third time in its previous 16 tries and rallied from a 17-point hole.
"I was pretty sure before the game that this was going to go to overtime. I just had a feeling it was and I had a feeling we were going to win. I'm not surprised by any of it," Mavs coach Rick Carlisle said.
Shawn Marion posted 19 points and 10 rebounds in a winning effort. The Mavs scored 25 points off 20 Sacramento turnovers and prevailed despite making only 7-of-27 3-pointers.
Dallas will try to put the brakes on a four-game home slide and is 8-7 as the host this season. The Mavericks haven't posted two straight wins since a three-game run from Dec. 6-10.
Also scheduled to visit the Mavs are Minnesota, Houston and Oklahoma City.
The Grizzlies are coming off an exciting 101-98 overtime win versus the Southwest Division-rival San Antonio Spurs on Friday. The Spurs, who rallied from four points down in the waning moments, sent the game into overtime on Tony Parker's three-pointer at the buzzer.
Memphis then outscored the Spurs, 6-3, in the extra frame and grabbed the lead for good on a jumper by Rudy Gay with 27.8 seconds to go. Gay led the Grizzlies with 23 points, Mike Conley posted 21 and Zach Randolph added to his NBA lead in double-doubles (24) with 18 points and 10 rebounds.
"It was a good test of our mental toughness and our togetherness because we did stick together," Memphis coach Lionel Hollins said. "We kept operating efficiently offensively, and nobody really tried to go off on their own, and we got the win."
These teams match up again in San Antonio next Wednesday.
Memphis, which converted 18 turnovers into 26 points, is 1 1/2 games behind San Antonio for the Southwest lead and will face another home test Monday against the Los Angeles Clippers. The Grizz have won four in a row on the road and are 10-6 outside FedEx Forum.
The Grizzlies are second in the NBA in points allowed (89.3) and have forced at least 10 turnovers in 138 consecutive games.
Memphis won the first of four meetings with Dallas back on Dec. 21 in a 92-82 victory, which was highlighted by Gay's 26 points, five rebounds and four steals. Marion ended with 14 points and 11 boards in that one for the Mavericks, who have lost five of the past six matchups in this series.
The Grizzlies have lost 10 of 12 and 19 of their last 22 at Dallas.
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