Mavericks Fall In Overtime, Will Face Spurs In First Round

Apr 16, 2014; Memphis, TN, USA; Dallas Mavericks forward Shawn Marion (0) and Dallas Mavericks guard Vince Carter (25) box out Memphis Grizzlies forward Zach Randolph (50) during the game at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports

DALLAS MAVERICKS at MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES Recap- April 16

Dirk Nowitzki scored a game-high 30 points and Monta Ellis added 14 of his 18 after the 3rd, but the Mavericks fell to the 8th seed with a 106-105 overtime loss in Memphis on April 16 to end the regular season. The Mavericks will begin the first round of the playoffs against the NBA-leading San Antonio Spurs on April 20.

Ellis scored seven points in the extra period after knocking down the game-tying 3-pointer with 13 seconds left in regulation. He missed a wide-open 21-foot jumper at the buzzer in overtime that would’ve won it for the Mavericks (49-33).

Dallas went up 102-98 after Ellis’ jumper with 2:06 remaining, but the Grizzlies would hit back-to-back layups to tie it at 102.

Nowitzki put the Mavs up three after hitting a wide open 3-pointer with 46 seconds left before another layup from Allen cut to one.

With the hot hand, coach Rick Carlisle put the ball in the hands of Ellis, but he took a tough-contested fade, missing with seven seconds.

Memphis didn’t call a timeout as Mike Conley took it coast-to-coast and drew a foul with 1.1 to go. Two things happened during the play. One, Conley appeared to travel and two, it appeared that Zach Randolph pushed Vince Carter into Conley which initiated the contact.

Conley hit both from the charity stripe, giving the Grizzlies their 50th win of the season and a first-round date with the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Randolph led five players in double figures with 27 points and 14 rebounds while Conley added 22. Marc Gasol finished with a near triple-double with 19 points, nine boards and nine dimes.

Ellis finished 8-of-21 from the field while Nowitzki was 12-of-22.

Nowitzki added four blocks and five rebounds while Ellis had six rebounds and four assists.

The loss snapped a season-long six-game road winning streak.

The Mavericks shot just 8-of-30 from behind the arc and only got to the line 11 times.

Memphis held a 48-39 rebounding advantage, grabbing 20 offensive boards. The Grizzlies scored 58 points inside the paint while Dallas scored 42.

Dallas trailed 29-24 after the opening quarter and held a 53-51 lead at halftime.

Now the Mavs will begin their quest for a second title in franchise history against the Southwest-rival Spurs, who have won nine straight match meetings.

Other first-round match ups include the Pacers vs Atlanta, Miami vs Charlotte, the Raptors vs the Nets and Chicago vs Washington out East. The West rounds out with Houston vs Portland and the Clippers vs the Warriors.