The Celtics set the pace defensively, causing Dirk Nowitzki to miss his first seven shots on the way to a 2-for-12 first half. Paul Pierce provided proof positive about the Celtics' defensive emphasis by producing more personal fouls (5) than field goals (3). And, following the Celtic blueprint, the defensive stops turned into offense - Ray Allen, who converted 8 of 9 shots in the opening half, Kevin Garnett, and Eddie House each scoring 23 points.
As for matching standards, the Celtics (37-9), who play host to Sacramento Wednesday, equaled the pace they set on the way to a 66-16 regular season last season.
"It's the last game on a four-game road trip," Rivers said of the Mavericks' schedule, "which, on an afternoon game, I don't know if that's the toughest scenario you can have, but it's close. And we were just making everything.
"The ball was moving, too, and our guys - there were at least eight possessions where the clock was down to five and we made two more passes and still found the guy. No one panicked."
If the Mavericks' alarm clocks had not gone off, the Celtics gave them jolts of 18-3 over 3:33 in the first and 21-4 over 5:04 in the second. Dallas went without a field goal over a 6:51 stretch before Jason Terry's 20-footer cut the deficit to 66-39 with 2:43 to play in the opening half. By the time the Mavericks awakened, the Celtic reserves were in the game and House was converting five successive 3-pointers for the second time in three games - he tied a team record with six 3-pointers in a quarter during a victory at Miami Wednesday.
Nowitzki (18 points) was averaging 26.7 points on this road trip, the Mavericks' wanderings taking them to Philadelphia (95-93 win), Milwaukee (133-99 loss), and Detroit (112-91 win).
"With Dirk, I noticed he gets a lot of space," Garnett said. "If you give him any kind of space he is going to let the three go, and that's probably one of the deadliest, [most] unorthodox stepbacks in the game today. All I did was try to pressure him - you put a hand in his face and contest whatever shot he has and make him go to his second moves."
