Mavericks Sweep Aside the Punchless Grizzlies

The Dallas Mavericks wanted to get this series over quickly. They certainly got the right opponent.

Dirk Nowitzki had 27 points and Josh Howard had 24 to lead the Mavericks over the Grizzlies, 102-76, at Memphis, Tenn., on Monday, Dallas’ first best-of-seven sweep and an NBA-record 12th consecutive playoff loss for Memphis.

“We didn’t want to drag the series out and let the momentum change and then the next thing you know you’re 3-3, so we wanted to get this out of the way,” Nowitzki said.

The Grizzlies obliged, falling easily while being swept for the third time in three straight playoff appearances.

Dallas will face the San Antonio-Sacramento winner next.

Pau Gasol scored 25 points for Memphis, which had only two double-figure scorers.

“I thought this was our best performance of the series,” Dallas Coach Avery Johnson said. “We talked about playing tough, hard-nosed defense tonight to try and close this series out.”

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Detroit 109, Milwaukee 99 -- Chauncey Billups was 16 of 16 from the free-throw line and had 34 points at Milwaukee to send the Pistons to a 3-1 series lead.

Trailing 86-85 with 5:52 left, Detroit went on an 8-0 run to take the lead for good. Billups’ free throws, combined with missed shots and mishandled balls by the Bucks, allowed the Pistons to put away the game.

Michael Redd led the Bucks with 33 points.

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Chicago Bull center Tyson Chandler is questionable for tonight’s Game 5 against the Heat at Miami because of a sprained right ankle. He was injured late in Sunday’s Game 4.... Detroit guard Richard Hamilton was fined $15,000 by the NBA for a foul against Redd in the fourth quarter of Saturday’s Game 3.... John Green, accused of throwing the cup that sparked a 2004 brawl between Indiana Pacer players and Detroit Piston fans, was sentenced to 30 days in jail on an assault and battery charge in Rochester Hills, Mich. Green, 41, also was sentenced to two years of probation.