MEMPHIS, Oct. 30 (UPI) -- Steve Nash had 24 points and 13 assists and Michael Finley scored 21 points Wednesday night as the Dallas Mavericks had six players in double figures in a 119-108 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies, who got a stunning debut from Gordan Giricek.
Memphis nearly rallied to upset Dallas behind a pair of dominant performances from 2001 Rookie of the Year Pau Gasol and Giricek. Gasol had 27 points and 10 rebounds and Giricek scored 29 points, the highest total by a player in his NBA debut since Allen Iverson had 30 in 1996.
Giricek, who was acquired from San Antonio in the offseason after spending two years playing overseas, made 10 of 13 shots from the floor and four of six three-pointers.
Giricek and Gasol combined to make 20 of 26 shots for Memphis, which shot 56 percent from the floor.
Memphis opened the fourth quarter with a 22-6 run, pulling within 106-102 on Giricek's three-pointer with 4:08 remaining. Nash responded with a three-point play and Raef LaFrentz followed with a layup as Dallas scored 13 of the game's final 16 points.
Dirk Nowitzki had 20 points and 11 rebounds and Nick Van Exel scored 16 points off the bench for the Mavs. LaFrentz finished with 14 points and Eduardo Najera collected 12 and 10 rebounds.
Rookie Drew Gooden scored 16 points for the Grizzlies, who have lost nine straight meetings with the Mavericks.
