Dirk Nowitzki (41) scored 10 of the final 13 points as Dallas hit some clutch shots and flexed some defensive muscle in handing Boston it's second loss of the season. (AP Photo/Mike Fuentes)Forced into a situation where they had to stand toe-to-toe with defending Eastern Conference Champs, the Boston Celtics (6-2), the Dallas Mavericks (4-2) exhibited a toughness and defensive tenacity rarely seen around these parts.
Instead of falling victim to another dismal fourth quarter at home, the Mavs bucked their recent trend and beat Boston at their own grind-it-out style of game.
"This was a will-win," Mavs head coach Rick Carlisle said. "It was all about will and all about toughness."
The Celtics rallied from down 10 points at halftime, using a 27-13 run to start the second half, to take a 67-63 lead with 1:57 left in the third quarter. Dallas turned the tide to end the third, going on a 7-2 run to take a 70-69 lead going into the final frame.
"It was a period where frustration could have easily taken over and it didn’t. Our guys didn’t allow it to," Carlisle said. "We knew this game was going to be about toughness and will."
Boston got off to a quick start in the fourth, leading by six halfway through the quarter and then Paul Pierce's leaner with 1:58 to go made it 87-82 Celtics. The Mavericks refused to go quietly, however, led by four points from Dirk Nowitzki and a three-pointer from Jason Terry; Dallas mounted a 7-0 run to close out the game.
"We know it was a big win for us," Terry said. "We hadn't had much success in the fourth quarter, but to end on a 7-0 run was huge. Defensively getting those stops and offensively getting the shots we wanted."
Terry's three tied the game at 87 after Jason Kidd penetrated into the lane and made a no-look, laser pass to Terry on the outside for the open look. Kidd finished with zero points (0 of 5 shooting), but dished out 10 assists and his quick hands accounted for two Mavs' steals.
"It was a perfect pass," Terry said. "All I had to do was let it fly."
Nowitzki and JET combined to score the final 15 points of the game for the Mavs, with Dirk accounting for 10 of his game-high 25 points in the final quarter. Dallas force-fed their superstar the ball on nearly every possession down the stretch and Terry provided the Robin-support that the Mavs have rarely had at their disposal so far this season.
"They drew in the defense late, Terry tied the game, and Dirk hits an amazing shot with great defense all over him," Boston's leading scorer (24 points) Pierce said. "That's what he's done throughout his career. That's why he's a future Hall of Famer."
The Celtics had a chance to send it to overtime with 17 seconds remaining in regulation, but a surprisingly suffocating Mavs' defense forced an ill-advised three-pointer from Rajon Rondo. Ray Allen got the rebound with 3 seconds left, but a smart decision by Terry to foul made the Celtics have to in-bound the ball with only a few seconds remaining. Boston got the ball into Kevin Garnett, but an awkward shot from just above the three-point line (and nearly behind the basket) fell short as Dallas pulled off the win.
"Garnett had a very difficult shot with two 7-footers on him," Carlisle said. ..."I'm really happy that our guys hung tough and found a way, because they deserved it."
The Mavs are now 2-2 at home this season, but have some hope that they may have erased some of the recent home woes with the win. In the fourth quarter especially, where Dallas closed out the game on a 15-7 run (all points scored by Dirk and JET), after Boston went up 80-74 with 7:24 left in the game.
"This is definitely a big win at home. [Boston] is a great team," Nowitzki said. "We hung in there and showed a lot of guts down the stretch."
What's Next:
Dallas has a day off Tuesday before traveling to Memphis to take on the Grizzlies. The Grizz are 4-4 this season, and beat the Mavs 91-90 in Dallas earlier this season.
Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.
News and Notes:
"We know it was a big win for us," Terry said. "We hadn't had much success in the fourth quarter, but to end on a 7-0 run was huge. Defensively getting those stops and offensively getting the shots we wanted."
Terry's three tied the game at 87 after Jason Kidd penetrated into the lane and made a no-look, laser pass to Terry on the outside for the open look. Kidd finished with zero points (0 of 5 shooting), but dished out 10 assists and his quick hands accounted for two Mavs' steals.
"It was a perfect pass," Terry said. "All I had to do was let it fly."
Nowitzki and JET combined to score the final 15 points of the game for the Mavs, with Dirk accounting for 10 of his game-high 25 points in the final quarter. Dallas force-fed their superstar the ball on nearly every possession down the stretch and Terry provided the Robin-support that the Mavs have rarely had at their disposal so far this season.
"They drew in the defense late, Terry tied the game, and Dirk hits an amazing shot with great defense all over him," Boston's leading scorer (24 points) Pierce said. "That's what he's done throughout his career. That's why he's a future Hall of Famer."
The Celtics had a chance to send it to overtime with 17 seconds remaining in regulation, but a surprisingly suffocating Mavs' defense forced an ill-advised three-pointer from Rajon Rondo. Ray Allen got the rebound with 3 seconds left, but a smart decision by Terry to foul made the Celtics have to in-bound the ball with only a few seconds remaining. Boston got the ball into Kevin Garnett, but an awkward shot from just above the three-point line (and nearly behind the basket) fell short as Dallas pulled off the win.
"Garnett had a very difficult shot with two 7-footers on him," Carlisle said. ..."I'm really happy that our guys hung tough and found a way, because they deserved it."
The Mavs are now 2-2 at home this season, but have some hope that they may have erased some of the recent home woes with the win. In the fourth quarter especially, where Dallas closed out the game on a 15-7 run (all points scored by Dirk and JET), after Boston went up 80-74 with 7:24 left in the game.
"This is definitely a big win at home. [Boston] is a great team," Nowitzki said. "We hung in there and showed a lot of guts down the stretch."
What's Next:
Dallas has a day off Tuesday before traveling to Memphis to take on the Grizzlies. The Grizz are 4-4 this season, and beat the Mavs 91-90 in Dallas earlier this season.
Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.
News and Notes:
- Caron Butler sat out the fourth quarter due to back spasms, according to coach Carlisle. Butler was 5 of 13 from the floor with 11 points before leaving the game.
- The Mavs' defense may have played its best game of the season against Boston. The Celtics shot only 41.8 percent from the floor against Dallas Monday night and tying a season-low with 87 points. "The defense really won us the game down the stretch," Nowitzki said.
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