DALLAS -- Dirk Nowitzki gave the Mavericks a boost in his return to the lineup, while the short-handed Grizzlies lost another starter to injury. [url=http://www.grizzliesbasketballpro.info/Lorenzen-Wright-Grizzlies-Je rsey/]Lorenzen Wright Grizzlies Jersey[/url] . Nowitzki scored 20 points after missi

DALLAS -- Dirk Nowitzki gave the Mavericks a boost in his return to the lineup, while the short-handed Grizzlies lost another starter to injury. Lorenzen Wright Grizzlies Jersey . Nowitzki scored 20 points after missing a game with a stomach virus and Dallas defeated Memphis 105-88 on Wednesday night. The Mavericks (15-10) have won two straight to equal their season high of five games over .500. Memphis (10-15) has lost five in a row and seven of eight. Nowitzki added six rebounds, five assists, two steals and one blocked shot. He scored four points during a 10-2 run after the Grizzlies cut a 16-point deficit to four in the third quarter. "I didnt feel great Monday in practice," the 16-year veteran said. "We didnt have a game for another two days, so by Tuesday I was a lot better and today I felt fine. I used the break to get healthy." Mavericks teammate Monta Ellis, who scored 16 of his 18 points in the second half to help squelch a Memphis rally, said Nowitzki didnt look as if he hadnt played a game in a week. "Even when he came back to practice, he didnt look like that. Hes been in the league so long that he knows how to take care of his body," Ellis said. Jose Calderon, in his first season with Dallas, scored 12 points, including two 3-pointer in the second quarter. He said he was "amazed" by Nowitzki. "He makes everything look so easy. I was amazed how the guys guarding him kept jumping, and he just waited and knocked down the shot," Calderon said. While the Mavericks got their star forward back, Memphis was without three injured starters. Tayshaun Prince missed his first game this season because of a sore left knee, and the Grizzlies already were without point guard Mike Conley and centre Marc Gasol. They dressed only 10 players for the game. Tony Allen led the Grizzlies with 16 points and matched a career high with 11 rebounds -- 10 on the offensive end. But he left in the fourth quarter because of a cut on his pinkie that required three stitches. "Im going to try to play (Saturday at New York)," Allen said. "I dont want to sit out and do all that behind-the-scenes treatment." Grizzlies coach David Joerger thought playing short-handed might have caught up to his team when it lost the momentum of a third-quarter rally that reduced Dallas lead from 65-49 to 66-62. "We got an offensive rebound when we were down six and had a turnover. I should have probably called a timeout at that point. Then we miss a layup, they score and I do call a timeout when we are down 10," Joerger said. Memphis eight offensive rebounds in the third helped the Grizzlies go on a 13-1 run that cut their deficit to 66-62. Zach Randolph scored 10 points during that stretch and finished with 14. Dallas built the lead back up to 78-66 entering the fourth quarter. Memphis got no closer than 11 during the final 12 minutes. Vince Carter had 14 points for the Mavericks and Shawn Marion 10. Samuel Dalembert, who didnt play in Dallas previous game, came off the bench in the second half to score eight points, grab seven rebounds and block two shots in 13 minutes. He also slowed down Randolph. "I liked the lift that Sam gave us off the bench," Nowitzki said. "He was phenomenal using his wing span to slow down Zach, and getting blocks and rebounds." Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle was able to change defensive tactics once he inserted Dalembert. "They were making a run. Randolph had gotten involved a little bit. Wed been double-teaming and fronting, and that opens up other things. We had Sam play it straight up. He was able to guard, his length was a factor, he rebounded, he blocked shots," Carlisle said. The Grizzlies shot only 17 for 47 (36 per cent) in the first half. "We held them to 40 per cent shooting (for the game). Any time we do that we put ourselves in position to win games," Nowitzki said. The Mavericks led by as many as 15 before finishing the first half with a 52-39 advantage. Three players did the damage in the second quarter, combining for all but two of Dallas points. Nowitzki and Calderon each scored eight, and Carter had seven. Nowitzki led the first-half scoring with 14 points, followed by Calderons 10. Allen also had 10, along with seven of Memphis 12 offensive rebounds in the half. "I thought Tony Allen really played a great game. When you get 10 offensive rebounds from the shooting guard position, that is working," Joerger said. NOTES: Conley (24 points), Gasol (23) and Prince (three) combined for 50 points in the previous meeting, a 111-99 Dallas victory on Nov. 2. Allen was scoreless in that game. ... Mike Miller started in Princes place and scored eight points. Conley (bruised left thigh) missed his second game in a row, and Gasol (sprained MCL in left knee) was out for the 12th consecutive game. The Grizzlies are 3-9 since Gasol was injured. ... Carlisle also missed the teams previous game Saturday because of a gastrointestinal illness. ... Dallas is 54-18 against Memphis. Shareef Abdur-Rahim Jersey .C. Lions. The clubs former starting quarterback, assistant and head coach returned Thursday as its receivers coach. Dillon Brooks Jersey . -- Canadas Justin Shin shot an 8-under 64 on Thursday on PGA Wests Nicklaus Tournament Course to take the first-round lead in the Web. http://www.grizzliesbasketballpro.info/Dillon-Brooks-Grizzlies-Jersey/ . The first baseman hit a two-run homer in the top of the ninth inning to lead the Mets to a thrilling come-from-behind 3-2 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers. VANCOUVER -- It was a case of two points lost rather than a point gained for the Vancouver Whitecaps. The Montreal Impact came into Wednesday with the worst record in Major League Soccer, but managed to hold the high-powered Whitecaps to a 0-0 draw in a dreary match that seemed destined to remain goalless after just a few minutes. "It wasnt very enjoyable watching it, was it?" Whitecaps head coach Carl Robinson asked the media afterwards. "I didnt enjoy watching it and I dont think the players enjoyed playing in it. Bad day at the office I think we call it. We take a point." In reality it was a missed opportunity for Vancouver (5-2-7), which entered play having scored nine goals over its last three contests, but looked flat coming out of the MLSs World Cup hiatus that resulted in an 18-day layoff. "We were hoping that the break didnt have any impact on us but obviously we have to say after this match it looked like it did," said Whitecaps goalkeeper David Ousted. "Definitely not the result we were looking for. We were definitely hoping for a win at home but this just shows you theres no easy games in MLS. I think we took it a little bit too lightly today." Ousted was forced to make a number of key saves early as the Whitecaps -- who had not played since June 7 -- looked asleep at the switch in the first half. Vancouver eventually got on the front foot as the game wore on, but it wasnt enough to earn a sixth victory on the season. "Well take the positives from it. We kept a clean sheet and thats eight games unbeaten now," said Whitecaps defender Andy OBrien. "I think its a sign ... that if you dont play well make sure you dont get beat." Montreal (2-7-5) entered the night last in MLS and remains winless on the road in 2014, but gutted out a hard-fought point. "I thought we defended very well and were committed to that part of the game (and) also had some very good chances to get the three points," said Impact head coach Frank Klopas. "I felt in the end we got a point in a difficult place and now we have to continue." The result is a disappointment for Vancouver, which occupies a Western Conference playoff spot and have games in hand on every other team currently in a post-season position. The Whitecaps travels to Colorado on Saturday to take on the Rapids, one of the teams theyre battling in the standings. After a first half that showed some considerable rust on the hosts, Vancouver came out with renewed vigour after the break. Whitecaps midfielder Kekuta Manneh fired a shot from outside the box that Troy Perkins had dive to keep out a mminute in, before Pedro Morales nearly snuck a free kick home on a shot that required a finger-tips save from the Montreal goalkeeper. Bryant Reeves Grizzlies Jersey. Things then started to open up a bit with 20 minutes to go as the teams finally found some inspiration. Vancouver striker Darren Mattocks flashed a shot wide in the 72nd minute before Impact midfielder Maxim Tissot hit the crossbar behind Ousted moments later. Whitecaps defender Carlyle Mitchell then forced a fine save from Perkins off a corner five minutes later, and Jordan Harveys follow up hit the crossbar. Montreal found the woodwork again in the 83rd when striker Jack McInerney headed off the post following a free kick. "The top teams in the world dont play well every game," said Robinson. "Thats the reality of it. I think every game weve played (at home) weve been excellent. "We were not playing with an urgency and a tempo that we have done." Montreal also had an extended 14-day break, but an Impact team missing striker Marco Di Vaio and midfielders Justin Mapp and Calum Mallace because of injury were perhaps a bit unlucky not to be leading at halftime. Ousted was forced to make a one-handed save off a deflection in the fourth minute that easily could have found its way over the line. McInerney then sent a shot into the side netting of Ousteds goal in the 26th minute, before Mattocks fizzed a ball towards Perkins from a distance that didnt cause any trouble five minutes later. Montreals best chance to take the lead came in stoppage time when Ousted had to scramble to make two saves to keep things level heading to the locker-rooms. "Theyre not going to come here and lie over, and they didnt," said Robinson of the Impact. "They thoroughly came and probably got something they deserved." The Welshman added he wont dwell on the missed opportunity with a critical away game in Colorado set for the weekend. "Well put this one to bed," said Robinson. "I watched it once, and that was enough." Notes: Ousted and Perkins each picked up their third shutouts of the season. ... Whitecaps striker Erik Hurtado saw his streak of goals in five straight games come to an end. ... Mitchell started in place of Vancouver captain Jay DeMerit, who tore a ligament in his left ankle in the game on June 7. ... Montreals next game is Sunday at home against the Houston Dynamo. ... Montreal has had a disastrous MLS campaign so far, but did win this years Amway Canadian Championship. ... Vancouvers two losses in MLS play is tied for second lowest with Real Salt Lake. ... Attendance at B.C. Place Stadium was 21,000. ' ' '