Nowitzki, Mavericks Wins 5th Straight With Win Over Celtics

Yeah. It’s safe to say Nowitzki can definitely still teach players like Olynyk a thing or two.

“We were well-prepared for the game, and yet, you know they still came at us harder than expected”. I don’t think we were ready for how intense they play. But, you know, we were able to hit a few baskets in the third and fourth quarter and get a few confidence. That was a fun game.

But the Mavs, who got eight points in 21 minutes from Chandler Parsons, and 14 points and 12 rebounds from Zaza Pachulia, managed to stay within arm’s length of the Celtics.

“He went back and got it and that’s all that matters, ” said Williams, who collected 16 points and six assists.

But it came down to a crucial steal to seal it.

For example, point guards Marcus Smart, Isaiah Thomas and small forward Jae Crowder scored a total of 36 points to help their the Celtics pull a magnificent win at the Toyota Center.

After the buzzer sounded, Nowitzki had a word for Olynyk as the two passed on the way to their respective benches. “He sprinted back, he got a deflection”. That was the play of the game.

Thomas led Boston with 19 points. And Wednesday only confirmed Boston must relearn how to win close games. He followed with a short jumper after Boston turned the ball over with a backcourt violation.

Dallas (8-4) rallied back from an 18-point first-quarter deficit, caught up but couldn’t go ahead – Boston (6-5) grabbing a seven-point lead with 7:58 remaining. Kelly Olynyk and Bradley each had a 3-pointer from the left corner during the run.

The Mavericks shot 64.7 percent (11 of 17) in the second after starting the game ice cold. After a tumultuous first year that saw the Celtics lose 57 of their 82 games, Stevens rebounded with an impressive second season, leading the Celtics to the playoffs and turning a team treading water in mediocrity into an up-and-coming contender.

Mavericks: F Charlie Villanueva left the team for the birth of his second child….

The Rockets fired McHale on Wednesday, but the sense around the league is he will have another job sooner rather than later. That said, everyone expects him to slide into a television role, relax for a little while, and then pick his spot if he returns to an National Basketball Association team in a few capacity.

BOSTON, MA – NOVEMBER 18: J.J. Barea #5 of the Dallas Mavericks goes for the lay up against the Bost … That clutch steal, along with two free throws from Deron Williams with 4.4 seconds left, capped off an fantastic comeback from 18 points down by the Mavs. “We won and played the next night and felt pretty good about it, ” Stevens said.

“I had a bunch of older guys in front of me, Vince Carter, Shawn Marion, and it was tough for me to get (playing time)”, Crowder said.