In season that already has had more low points than in the past four years combined, the Celtics were embarrassed again on national television. Coach Doc Rivers used every available player in an attempt to retain respectability.
The Celtics were going with four guards and a forward at times in the second half, even five guards at a time. Winning was out of the question, but the Celtics wanted to provide some type of resistance.
Amazingly, they are still eighth in the Eastern Conference, but nearly halfway into the season they are hurting, and the main objective is holding on for reinforcements.
“Tonight, if we could have stole the game, it would have been great,’’ Rivers said. “Playing five guards, we just tried to mess the game up. That was our intention going in and we actually did but we just couldn’t make shots. That wasn’t surprising.’’
Dirk Nowitzki led the Mavericks with 26 points and 16 rebounds in 30 minutes as the Mavericks took turns gashing the Celtics’ overwhelmed defense. Boston never led, trailed by 10 at halftime, and the Dallas lead reached 24 in the third quarter.
It was the Celtics’ sixth loss in seven games.
Last night was difficult enough without Garnett and Rondo, who was serving the first of a two-game suspension for tossing the ball at official Sean Wright Sunday night against Detroit. O’Neal then became the third unavailable starter when he departed with 9:38 left in the third quarter with a strained left wrist.
A short time later, Wilcox was laboring near the Celtics bench and left with a strained right adductor muscle. Paul Pierce (20 points) and Ray Allen (15) tried carrying the offense, but Rivers eventually sat them early in the fourth quarter.
