Grizzlies are kind of grisly

Well, in the first quarter at least, it would seem that Memphis is the perfect team for the Mavericks to face after losing Devin Harris for up to three weeks, and maybe more. Harris has a bone bruise on his left ankle so Jason Terry started tonight. After one period, Dallas is leadinig 33-19 and Josh Howard is doing his regular first-quarter thing. He has 14 points, which makes this the fourth time in the last five games he has 10 or more.

As far as what the Mavericks are going to do, they say they have no plans to bring in a temporary replacement for Harris. And head coach Avery Johnson said the only choice the team has right now is to await Harris and Jerry Stackhouse, who has a strained hamstring, to get better.

"We had a moment there where we had a chance to see our team," Johnson said, "but now we have two guys that are out of the rotation so some of the other guys are going to have to play."

Of course, the Harris injury comes at the worst time for Dallas. The next three games are against Eastern Divison leaders Boston, Detroit and Orlando.

So the Mavericks will be enjoying their time in Memphis -- at least if it continues like this.

-- Jan Hubbard