Nowitzki leads Mavericks' balanced attack in win over feisty Celtics
NBA fans were treated to 10 games on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
While some of the more marquee matchups were not quite the nail-biters hoop heads had been hoping for, those in attendance at American Airlines Center certainly got a good bang for their buck.
The Dallas Mavericks hosted the Boston Celtics Monday night in a contest that came down to the wire.
In the end, however, the usual suspects came through in the clutch for the home team, as four Dallas starters scored in double digits and the Mavs improved to 24-19 on the season.
FINAL OT: Mavs beat the @celtics 118-113. Dirk 31p 10r, DWill 20p 6a, Zaza 19r #DALvsBOS
https://t.co/CSJmrcydts pic.twitter.com/lxQRtZOnOv
— Dallas Mavericks (@dallasmavs) January 19, 2016
Dirk Nowitzki finished with 31 points - seven of which came in overtime - and 11 rebounds, as he led his squad past a Celtics team that just wouldn't give up.
Related: Smart pulls Celtics closer to Mavs with buzzer-beating 3-pointer
Jae Crowder ties the game at 98-98 by hitting 3 big free throws and we are heading to #overtime in Dallas!
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) January 19, 2016
The Mavs opened the extra period by hitting four 3-pointers - two of which came from Deron Williams who had 20 points on the night - and never looked back.
The Celtics entered the evening riding a three-game winning streak and were buoyed by hearty scoring performances from several players; Isaiah Thomas (20), Marcus Smart (20), Avery Bradley (19), Kelly Olynyk (17), Jae Crowder (12), and Jared Sullinger (12).
But alas, the Celtics' valiant effort came in a loss, as Dallas extended its dominance over Boston, having beaten "the Boys from Beantown" seven consecutive times.