Dallas (13-5) at Memphis (13-5) 8:00 pm EST

MEMPHIS, Tennessee (Ticker) - A suffocating defense has been the main reason the Memphis Grizzlies are off to one of the best starts in the Western Conference.

The Grizzlies try to win their seventh consecutive contest Friday when they host the Dallas Mavericks.

After the departures of Stromile Swift, James Posey and Bonzi Wells in the offseason, Memphis brought in veterans Bobby Jackson, Eddie Jones and Damon Stoudamire. The newcomers have helped the Grizzlies top the league in defense, yielding just 84.4 points per game.

Paul Gasol scored 29 points and grabbed 15 rebounds and Jackson added 21 points to lead Memphis to an 89-73 win over the New Orleans Hornets on Tuesday. The Grizzlies have surrendered an average of 76 points during the winning streak.

Better known for its offense in recent years, Dallas has won three straight contests to match Memphis' season record and has limited its last four opponents to 87.3 points per game.

Dirk Nowitzki scored 31 points and grabbed 11 rebounds as the Mavericks held the Indiana Pacers to 34 percent (23-of-67) shooting from the floor in Tuesday's 84-75 triumph.

After dropping all four encounters with Dallas last season, Memphis posted a 112-92 victory in their first matchup of the season November 26. Gasol led the Mavericks with 16 points and 15 rebounds.