Dirk Nowitzki scored 25 points, including the go-ahead jumper with less than 20 seconds to play, and the Dallas Mavericks snapped Boston's five-game winning streak with a 89-87 victory over the Celtics on Monday night. Jason Terry added 17 points, and Tyson Chandler had 12 points and 13 rebounds for Dallas.
Paul Pierce scored 24 points, Kevin Garnett had 18 points and 15 rebounds, and Rajon Rondo had 11 points and 15 assists for the Celtics, who'd won their last three trips to Dallas.
Boston held an 87-82 lead with 1:58 left on Pierce's 17-footer. But Nowitzki converted a layup, then Terry made a 3-pointer with 1:13 remaining to tie it at 87. Garnett missed an inside shot with 36 seconds left, and Nowitzki connected from 16 feet on the left wing with 17.4 to play to give Dallas the lead for good.
Rondo missed a 3-pointer with 3.8 seconds left, but Terry fouled going for a loose ball to give the Celts another possession. Garnett's desperation 3-pointer from the right corner failed to hit the rim.
After trailing by 10 at halftime, the Celtics used an 18-6 run capped by Pierce's wide-open 3-pointer for a 67-63 lead with 1:57 left in the third quarter.
Dallas finished the third with a 7-2 run for a 70-69 edge heading into the final quarter.
Midway through the second quarter, Terry swished a 3-pointer from deep in the left corner that he had to loft high over Marquis Daniels of the Celtics. Terry high-fived a fan, Daniels was whistled for a foul on the shot, and Terry connected on a free throw for a four-point play to give Dallas a 40-30 lead.
Dallas carried a 50-40 lead into halftime behind Chandler's 10 points and nine rebounds.
Celtics center Jermaine O'Neal missed the second half with a sore left knee. O'Neal started and played 11 minutes in the first half, contributing two points and three rebounds. O'Neal missed a game against the
[COLOR=blue ! important][COLOR=blue ! important]New [COLOR=blue ! important]York [/COLOR][COLOR=blue ! important]Knicks[/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR] on Oct. 29 with the same injury, but had played in Boston's last five games.
The Mavericks were coming off Saturday night's 103-92 defeat to Denver, their second loss in three home games.
In that game, Dallas had 21 turnovers, seven by Nowitzki and eight by the team in the final quarter. Defense was another issue for the Mavs against Denver, with the Nuggets hitting 13 of 21 from 3-point territory.
Notes: Boston C Shaquille O'Neal missed his fifth straight game with a bruised right knee, but coach Doc Rivers said O'Neal could return Thursday night at Miami or Saturday night at Memphis. ... Dallas G DeShawn Stevenson got the start after logging only two minutes in the opening five games. Terry started the first five games at shooting guard after Terry served as Dallas' sixth man last season. ...Nowitzki had his longish blond hair cropped into a buzz cut on Monday.
Nowitzki's 25 points lead Mavericks past Celtics
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