DALLAS, November 9 – Dallas star Dirk Nowitzki scored 25 points, including the game-winning basket with 17 seconds to play Monday, as the Mavericks beat Boston 89-87, snapping a five-game Celtics NBA win streak.
Jason Terry scored 17 points while Tyson Chandler contributed 12 points and 13 rebounds for the Mavericks, who improved to 4-2 and also ended a three-game Boston win streak in Dallas.
Paul Pierce scored 24 points for the Celtics, who fell to 6-2 but still share the Eastern Conference lead with Atlanta. Kevin Garnett had 18 points and 15 rebounds while Rajon Rondo added 11 points and 15 assists for Boston.
The Celtics led 87-82 with 1:58 remaining on a basket by Pierce, but the visitors would not score again.
German star Nowitzki, his blonde hair cropped short, made a layup and Terry sank a 3-pointer with 73 seconds remaining to level the score. After a Garnett miss, Nowitzki connected from the left side to provide the margin of victory.
Rondo missed a 3-point attempt with 3.8 seconds remaining, but a foul was whistled on Terry as he fought for a loose ball and Boston had one more chance.
That failed as well, Garnett missing a desperate 3-pointer from the corner at the buzzer.
The Celtics were without center Shaquille O’Neal, who missed his fifth game in a row with a right knee bruise, but coach Doc Rivers said he might be able to play Thursday at Miami against former Cleveland teammate LeBron James.
Also hurt for Boston was center Jermaine O’Neal, who missed the second half with a sore left knee.
