Memphis: Western Conference top seeds San Antonio were pushed to the brink of elimination from the first round of the NBA playoffs after the Memphis Grizzlies took a 3-1 series lead with a 104-86 win over the Spurs on Monday.

In Dallas, the Mavericks took a 3-2 series lead over the Portland Trail Blazers after a 93-82 victory and will get the chance to close out the series in Portland tomorrow.

The Grizzlies finished the regular season eighth in the West and were not expected to be a major test for the Spurs but their Game Four win puts them in a commanding position in their best-of-seven series.

Memphis were too big and athletic for the Spurs and blew the game open in the third quarter where they outscored San Antonio 30-15.

Mike Conley led Memphis with 15 points, with four others joining him in double figures, as the Grizzlies close in on their first NBA playoff series win.

"We're a team that doesn't get a lot of attention," Conley told reporters. "We've been playing great and we're able to beat good teams like San Antonio. We just have to do it one more time."

The Spurs got 23 points from Tony Parker but Tim Duncan struggled with just six points and seven rebounds.

Game Five is Tuesday in San Antonio.

The Mavericks blew a 23-point lead in the final 13 minutes of Game Four to lose on Saturday but regrouped with an inspired second half to take a 3-2 series advantage.

Take control

Dallas got 25 points from Dirk Nowitzki and 20 from Jason Terry as they outscored the Blazers 31-20 in the third to take control of the game.

Brandon Roy, who was coming off a spectacular performance in Game Four when he tallied 18 of his 24 points in the fourth quarter, managed just five on Monday.

Meanwhile, hobbled All Stars Kobe Bryant and Derrick Rose were set to test their ankle injuries yesterday when both were expected to lead their respective teams in first round playoff action.

Five-time NBA champion Bryant suffered a sprained left ankle on Sunday when the Los Angeles Lakers lost to the New Orleans Hornets to tie their best-of-seven series at 2-2.

Rose, the Chicago Bulls' top scorer and a leading candidate to win the NBA MVP Award, also sustained a left ankle sprain against the Indiana Pacers on Saturday.

Results

MEMPHIS 104 San Antonio 86

(Memphis lead best-of-seven series 3-1)

DALLAS 93 Portland 82

(Dallas lead best-of-seven series 3-2)

Oklahoma 101 DENVER 104

(Oklahoma City lead best-of-seven series 3-1)

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