Feb

13

Celtics Big Fourth Quarter Corral Mavericks 99-92

Posted by Jeff Sack under NBA Game Recap 

Paul and Ray 2.13a

Paul Pierce scored 18 of his team high 31 points in the fourth quarter, and the Boston Celtics needed every one of them as they rallied back from a double digit deficit at the half to defeat the Dallas Mavericks Thursday night 99-92. The Celtics with the victory go into the All-Star break on a positive note having won their last two games. They defeated the New Orleans Hornets Wednesday night  by the score of 89-77.  Boston won the game despite an outstanding effort by Mavericks star forward Dirk Nowitzki who had a game high 37 points. However the rest of his club was little help as Dallas shot an anemic 39.5% (32-81) from the floor for the game.

Neither team looked particularly strong in the first quarter, however the Celtics looked almost in a fog, as Dallas took the lead at the end of the first quarter 21-17.  The Mavericks allowed the Celtics to stay within hailing distance for about the first 5 minutes of the second quarter, but then they pulled ahead. As the contest reached the half, Dallas had a healthy 51-40 lead.

Boston slowly and methodically started chipping away at the Mavericks lead in the third quarter. They had cut the deficit to just 6 points as Ray Allen hit a pair at the with 34 seconds remaining, and at the end of the period Dallas could feel the Celtics presence as it was a 75-69 contest. Boston took their first lead of the second half with 5:37 left in the game as Paul Pierce knocked down a mid-range jumper, was fouled on the play, hit his shot at the line to give his team an 85-84 lead. The Mavericks were not done yet as Dirk Nowitzki connected on an outside shot with 1:38 to play and knotted up the game at 91-91. But that would the Mavericks last gasp as Boston pulled ahead, and Dallas could not recover.

Paul Pierce led the Celtics with 31 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists, while Ray Allen had 20 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal. Rajon Rondo get s better every game as he recorded his second triple-double of the campaign and his career, 19 points, 15 boards, 14 assists, and 1 steal, Kevin Garnett added 16 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists.

Dirk Nowitzki led all players with 37 points, 8 rebounds, and 1 steal for the Mavericks. Josh Howard scored 17 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 blocks, and 1 steal, while Antoine Wright added 10 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal. Boston goes into the break with a 44-11 record, Dallas is 31-21.

© Copyright 2009 thesackattack.net


Updates, Fresh From the Oven, Straight to Your Inbox

Comments

Leave a Reply