MEMPHIS, April 7 (UPI) -- Rudy Gay led Memphis to a quick start Saturday and the Grizzlies fought off Dallas 94-89 to win for the seventh time in nine games.
Memphis vaulted to a 15-3 lead, Dallas closed to within one early in the second half and the Grizzlies slowly pulled away again.
The Mavericks suffered their fourth loss in six games and found themselves just 1 1/2 games in front of ninth place with the loss of a post-season berth looming as a possibility.
Gay scored 25 points, while Zach Randolph added 15 points and 11 rebounds. The Grizzlies began the night only 1 1/2 games behind the Los Angeles Clippers for the No. 4 seed in the Western Conference and the first-round, home-court advantage that goes with it.
Dirk Nowitzki had 17 points for Dallas. Brandan Wright chipped in a season-best 16.
