Noel leads Mavericks past Grizzlies
DALLAS -- In his first start with his new team, center Nerlens Noel notched his second double-double of the season to lead the Dallas Mavericks to a 104-100 victory against the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday night at American Airlines Center.
Noel, acquired by the Mavs at the trade deadline, was supposed to get his first start on Wednesday at Atlanta, but he showed up late for the team plane and was punished by coach Rick Carlisle. He didn't waste Friday's opportunity, compiling an All-Star-like stat line of 15 points, 17 rebounds, two assists and two blocks. Noel hit 6 of 10 shots
Dallas (25-36) continues to be an improving basketball team as Carlisle goes with a slew of young players, such as newly minted rookie of the month Yogi Ferrell. Ferrell was impressive again against elite Grizzlies point guard Mike Conley with 17 points on 6-of-12 shooting and five assists.
The Mavs got a team-high 24 points from shooting guard Seth Curry, and Harrison Barnes added 18. Forward Dirk Nowitzki, who is nearing 30,000 career points, had just 10 points to go with seven rebounds.
The Grizzlies (36-26) trailed by one at halftime, but fell behind 70-60 in the third quarter, a lead Dallas managed to maintain until Memphis clawed to within 94-90 as Dallas missed its last nine field-goal attempts of the game.
With a chance to make it a two-point game with less than 50 seconds to go, Nowitzki managed to knock the ball away from Memphis center Marc Gasol, who was then whistled for a foul going for the loose ball.
Memphis coach David Fizdale didn't like the call and earned a technical foul. Nowitzki hit the extra free throw and Ferrell calmly hit two free throws earned on the foul by Gasol, who finished with 13 points on just 6-of-18 shooting, for a seven-point lead.
Conley led the Grizzlies with a game-high 30 points, and forward Zach Randolph had 24 points and 10 rebounds. Former Mavs forward Chandler Parsons continued his struggles with just seven points for Memphis.
NOTES: Mavericks F Dirk Nowitzki needs 38 points to become the sixth player in NBA history to reach 30,000 career points. ... G Wesley Matthews (hip) missed his second consecutive game. He is expected back for Sunday's game against Oklahoma City. ... G Devin Harris finished Friday's game with a season-high six assists. ... Memphis held Dallas to 64 points in their first meeting of the season in November. The teams play twice more in the final 20 games. ... Grizzlies C Brandan Wright was not with the team for personal reasons. ... F Chandler Parsons is expected to try to play in Saturday's game at Houston.