Box Score

 

DALLAS (108)

                          fg    ft    rb             
                   min   m-a   m-a   o-t   a  pf   tp
J Howard            28 11-14   4-5   2-6   1   2   27
D Nowitzki          26  3-11 10-12   2-8   5   2   16
E Dampier           26   1-3   4-6   3-7   2   2    6
J Terry             25   2-3   0-0   0-1   6   2    5
M Finley            21   5-8   0-0   0-2   3   1   11
S Bradley           11   2-3   0-0   2-3   1   1    4
D Harris            14   2-4   4-4   0-2   1   2    8
K Van Horn          15   4-5   2-2   0-2   3   2   10
J Stackhouse        18   5-9   2-2   1-3   0   3   13
M Daniels           22   1-4   0-0   0-2   6   4    2
A Henderson         18   2-7   0-0   3-5   1   1    4
D Armstrong         16   0-2   2-2   0-1   2   1    2
  
_____________________________________________________
TOTALS             240 38-73 28-33 13-42  31  23  108
_____________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.521, FT-.848. 3-Point Goals:
4-11, .364 (J Howard 1-2, J Terry 1-2, M 
Finley 1-2, K Van Horn 0-1, J Stackhouse 1-2,
M Daniels 0-1, D Armstrong 0-1). Team 
Rebounds: 9. Blocked Shots:3 (E Dampier 2, D 
Armstrong). Turnovers:12 (E Dampier 2, K Van 
Horn 2, M Daniels 2, D Armstrong, J Terry, D 
Nowitzki, J Howard, S Bradley, J Stackhouse).
Steals: 9 (D Armstrong 2, J Terry 2, S 
Bradley, M Daniels, D Nowitzki, J Howard, J 
Stackhouse).


MEMPHIS (88)

                          fg    ft    rb             
                   min   m-a   m-a   o-t   a  pf   tp
S Battier           21   0-1   2-2   0-1   2   4    2
P Gasol             25   8-9   2-2   2-4   2   2   18
L Wright            26   3-8   1-2   1-9   2   2    7
J Williams          21   1-3   0-0   0-0   2   0    2
M Miller            24   5-9   1-1   0-3   3   1   12
J Posey             26  3-10   6-6   3-4   1   2   12
S Swift             28  4-12   3-3   3-4   1   5   11
B Wells             29   4-7   5-6   0-0   1   4   13
E Watson            20   2-6   4-6   0-2   0   0    9
D Jones             13   0-3   0-0   0-0   0   2    0
A Burks              7   1-1   0-0   0-0   2   0    2
B Cardinal         DNP  - LEFT KNEE TENDINITIS                           
  
_____________________________________________________
TOTALS             240 31-69 24-28  9-27  16  22   88
_____________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.449, FT-.857. 3-Point Goals:
2-14, .143 (J Williams 0-2, M Miller 1-3, J 
Posey 0-4, B Wells 0-1, E Watson 1-3, D Jones
0-1). Team Rebounds: 4. Blocked Shots:6 (S 
Battier 2, L Wright, B Wells, D Jones, S 
Swift). Turnovers:14 (E Watson 3, J Williams 
2, B Wells 2, P Gasol 2, D Jones 2, S Swift 
2, L Wright). Steals: 7 (M Miller 2, A Burks 
2, J Posey, E Watson, S Swift).

--------------------------------------------
DALLAS                29  26  31  22  -  108
MEMPHIS               16  25  30  17  -   88
-------------------------------------------- 

Technical fouls: Dallas - 1 (M Finley, 3:10 
3rd).
Flagrant fouls: None. A: 16,512. T: 2:13. 
Officials: Bill Kennedy, Bob Delaney, Leon 
Wood.

Extended Box

 

DALLAS (108) AT MEMPHIS (88)

DALLAS

                                               REBOUNDS                        
PLAYER           POS  MIN  FGM-FGA  FTM-FTA  OFF-DEF-TOT  AST  PF  ST  TO  PTS
======           ===  ===  =======  =======  ===========  ===  ==  ==  ==  ===
 
J HOWARD          F    28   11-14     4-5      2   4   6    1   2   1   1   27
D NOWITZKI        F    26    3-11    10-12     2   6   8    5   2   1   1   16
E DAMPIER         C    26    1-3      4-6      3   4   7    2   2   0   2    6
J TERRY           G    25    2-3      0-0      0   1   1    6   2   2   1    5
M FINLEY          G    21    5-8      0-0      0   2   2    3   1   0   0   11
S BRADLEY              11    2-3      0-0      2   1   3    1   1   1   1    4
D HARRIS               14    2-4      4-4      0   2   2    1   2   0   0    8
K VAN HORN             15    4-5      2-2      0   2   2    3   2   0   2   10
J STACKHOUSE           18    5-9      2-2      1   2   3    0   3   1   1   13
M DANIELS              22    1-4      0-0      0   2   2    6   4   1   2    2
A HENDERSON            18    2-7      0-0      3   2   5    1   1   0   0    4
D ARMSTRONG            16    0-2      2-2      0   1   1    2   1   2   1    2
  
TOTALS                240   38-73    28-33    13  29  42   31  23   9  12  108
                            (.521)  (.848)  TEAM REBS:  9 TOTAL TO: 14 (16 PTS)    

MEMPHIS

                                               REBOUNDS                         
PLAYER           POS  MIN  FGM-FGA  FTM-FTA  OFF-DEF-TOT  AST  PF  ST  TO  PTS
======           ===  ===  =======  =======  ===========  ===  ==  ==  ==  ===
 
S BATTIER         F    21    0-1      2-2      0   1   1    2   4   0   0    2
P GASOL           F    25    8-9      2-2      2   2   4    2   2   0   2   18
L WRIGHT          C    26    3-8      1-2      1   8   9    2   2   0   1    7
J WILLIAMS        G    21    1-3      0-0      0   0   0    2   0   0   2    2
M MILLER          G    24    5-9      1-1      0   3   3    3   1   2   0   12
J POSEY                26    3-10     6-6      3   1   4    1   2   1   0   12
S SWIFT                28    4-12     3-3      3   1   4    1   5   1   2   11
B WELLS                29    4-7      5-6      0   0   0    1   4   0   2   13
E WATSON               20    2-6      4-6      0   2   2    0   0   1   3    9
D JONES                13    0-3      0-0      0   0   0    0   2   0   2    0
A BURKS                 7    1-1      0-0      0   0   0    2   0   2   0    2
B CARDINAL            DNP  - LEFT KNEE TENDINITIS                                     
  
TOTALS                240   31-69    24-28     9  18  27   16  22   7  14   88
                            (.449)  (.857)  TEAM REBS:  4 TOTAL TO: 15 (23 PTS)    
  
   DALLAS             29   26   31   22   -   108
   MEMPHIS            16   25   30   17   -   88
  
BLOCKED SHOTS: DALLAS - E DAMPIER 2, D ARMSTRONG.  MEMPHIS - S BATTIER 2,
L WRIGHT, B WELLS, D JONES, S SWIFT.
3-PT. FIELD GOALS: DALLAS 4-11 (.364), J HOWARD 1-2, J TERRY 1-2, M FINLEY 1-
2, K VAN HORN 0-1, J STACKHOUSE 1-2, M DANIELS 0-1, D ARMSTRONG 0-
1. MEMPHIS 2-14 (.143), J WILLIAMS 0-2, M MILLER 1-3, J POSEY 0-4,
B WELLS 0-1, E WATSON 1-3, D JONES 0-1.
TECHNICAL FOULS: DALLAS - M FINLEY.
FLAGRANT FOULS: NONE.
OFFICIALS: BILL KENNEDY, BOB DELANEY, LEON WOOD.
A - 16,512. T - 2:13.

Game Story

MEMPHIS, Tennessee (Ticker) -- Josh Howard and Dirk Nowitzki 
kept the Dallas Mavericks charging into the playoffs.

Howard scored 27 points and Nowitzki collected 18 and eight
rebounds in limited duty as the Mavericks closed the regular
season with 108-88 rout of the playoff-bound Memphis Grizzlies.

It was Dallas' ninth consecutive win, improved the team's record
to 16-2 since coach Avery Johnson replaced Don Nelson on March
19.

"During this last stretch, we've played some pretty good games
against some good teams," Johnson said. "There have been
stretches during this run, though, that have made us be humble
about some things."

"It was a pretty good (regular season)," Nowitzki said. "We had
injury problems with (Erick) Dampier out.  We had Michael Finley
out the first month.  Marquis (Daniels) battled injuries all
year and (Jerry) Stackhouse was in and out. But we've gotten hot
at the right time and now we are on the same page and ready for
the playoffs."

The Mavericks had little trouble in this one as they raced to a
25-6 lead in the first quarter.  Howard, who left the game in
the third period after coming down awkwardly on a layup, scored
12 points and Nowitzki added seven during the surge.

"We've been trying to do this the last couple of games," Howard
said. "Guys have been playing hard all year, and tonight we were
able to give guys breaks.  Other guys were able to show coach
(Avery Johnson) they can play.  We're ready for the playoffs.

"We've got 16 games to win. Hopefully we can win them all."

Memphis never got closer than 63-55 after a pair of free throws
by Pau Gasol with 7 1/2 minutes left in the third quarter.
Dallas responded with an 8-0 burst capped by a jumper by
Nowitzki, who played just 27 minutes.

The Grizzlies have lost five of their last six, finishing the
regular season in similar fashion to last season's slide of six
of seven prior to getting swept by San Antonio.

"They came in here and just really spanked us on our home court,
but luckily it doesn't really mean anything," Grizzlies guard
Bonzi Wells said. "We wanted to get this victory, and it's tough
to go into the playoffs on a losing note.  The fact is, we kind
of did that last year and you saw what happened.  It's going to
be tough, but hopefully we can recover."

Fourth-seeded Dallas (58-24) finished with the second-most wins
in franchise history and will host fifth-seeded Houston in the
first round.  Last season, the Mavericks (52-30) did not have
the home-court advantage as the No. 5 seed which led to their
ousting by Sacramento.

One of the worst teams in the league in its first eight seasons,
Memphis (45-37) will be in the playoffs for the second
consecutive campaign.  The Grizzlies will have the daunting task
of trying to slow down Phoenix, which finished with the best
record in the NBA.

"It's tough," Memphis forward Mike Miller said. "The last game
at home, you want to bring energy.  That's one thing that was
disappointing.  Our energy wasn't there. The one thing we've got
to focus on (Thursday morning) when we come in here is that
it's a clean slate."

Fourth-seeded Dallas (58-24) finished with the second-most wins
in franchise history and will host fifth-seeded Houston on
Saturday.  Last season, the Mavericks (52-30) did not have the
home-court advantage as the No. 5 seed which led to their
ousting by Sacramento.

"We aren't a perfect team," Johnson said. "We have a lot to work
on, starting Saturday.  But we can hone in on one team now and
play good basketball."

One of the worst teams in the league in its first eight seasons,
Memphis (45-37) will be in the playoffs for the second
consecutive campaign. The Grizzlies will have the daunting task
of trying to slow down Phoenix, which finished with the best
record in the NBA.

"We have to focus on what Phoenix does best and what we do best,
and (Thursday) morning it'll be like none of this even
happened," Miller said.