Dallas Mavericks escape with a win over the Boston Celtics
The Dallas Mavericks snapped the five-game winning run of the defending eastern conference champion Boston Celtics with a hard-earned 89-87 victory on Monday 8 November at the American Airlines
Center in Dallas.
Former Most Valuable Player Dirk Nowitzki, who decided to have a his long-blond hair cut after a dismal performance on Saturday 6 November against the Denver Nuggets, scored 25 points for
the Mavericks.
“Dirk cut his hair,” said Mavericks point guard Jason Terry on Nowitzki, who went scoreless in the final period of their game against the Nuggets where he also had seven turnovers. “He's
back to his MVP status. Tonight, he wasn't going to settle.”
The 32-year-old German forward also added seven rebounds and shot 9-for-16 from the floor, highlighted by a go-ahead basket down the stretch, but Nowitzki refused to take all the credit for
their victory over a title-contender.
“What really won us the game down the stretch tonight was our defense showed a lot of will,” Nowitzki said. “We were down five or six late and we came together in the final timeout and said
that this is our game, let's go out and get it.”
Jason Terry provided the much-need spark from the bench as the former sixth man of the year chipped in 17 points, while Tyson Chandler scored 12 points and grabbed 13 rebounds for the Mavericks,
who found themselves trailing by five points in the final two minutes.
Boston Celtics forward Paul Pierce knocked down a 17-foot jumper in 1:58 mark of final period, giving the Celtics an 87-82 lead, before Nowitzki converted a layup, which was followed by a
game-tying three-pointer from Terry.
The Celtics failed to score in the ensuing possession. Tthat gave the Mavericks a chance to win the game and they did not waste the opportunity after Nowitzki hit a 16-footer over Glen Davis
from a nice dish from veteran point guard Jason Kidd, which sealed their fourth win of the season.
“I knew Kidd was going to find me and then Davis was there,” Nowitzki said. I was able to face him up and knock the shot down.”
Pierce led Boston’s attack with his 24 points and Kevin Garnett had a big night, tallying 18 points and 15 rebounds, while Rajon Rondo had another impressive night as he finished the game
with 11 points and 15 assists.
“It was a game we just let slip away,” said Pierce, who also had seven rebounds and shot 10-for-19 from the field.
The Celtics played without Shaquille O’Neal, who is out with a bruised knee, and absorbed another blow after Jermaine O’Neal missed the entire second half with a sore left knee.
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