NBA: Dallas 95, Memphis 85

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DALLAS, April 4 (UPI) -- Shawn Marion led Dallas on a late rush Wednesday that allowed the Mavericks to pull out a vital 95-85 victory over Memphis.

Memphis led for much of the game and was still out front by a point with 9:18 to play but Dallas closed the contest on a 23-12 run. Marion scored 12 of his 16 points in the final period.

The defending champion Mavericks began the night in sixth place in the Western Conference, with only two games separating No. 6 through No. 9 in the playoff race. The victory moved Dallas into a tie for fifth with Memphis.

Dirk Nowitzki scored 23 points with 10 rebounds for Dallas and Jason Terry had 15.

O.J. Mayo had 17 points for Memphis, which had won three in a row. Marc Gasol scored 10 points with 10 rebounds while making only 3-of-13 from the field.