DALLAS — The Boston Celtics got the split they wanted with the Dallas Mavericks.
Paul Pierce scored 29 points, Rajon Rondo added 20 points and 10 rebounds, and the Celtics stretched their winning streak to four games with a 102-93 victory over the Mavericks on Saturday night.
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Ray Allen had 21 points for the Celtics, who were beaten by the Mavericks 99-90 in Boston on Jan. 18 in their only other meeting this season.
Boston’s Rasheed Wallace vowed “retribution” in the rematch, complaining after the game in January that the referees give Dallas’ top scorer Dirk Nowitzki preferential treatment. Wallace refused to comment after Saturday night’s game, but Rondo said the Celtics weren’t dwelling on the past.
“We don’t look at it as payback,” Rondo said. “That game was over when it happened. It’s a new time for us and we just needed a win.”
Nowitzki had 37 points in the first meeting, but Boston’s Kevin Garnett, a longtime Nowitzki nemesis, missed the game with a hyperextended right knee. Had he been healthy, Garnett would have been the primary defender on Nowitzki.
This time, Garnett and Wallace took turns guarding Nowitzki, who still went 11 for 19 from the floor and finished with 28 points.
Nowitzki had 12 points in the final quarter, but his teammates were only able to provide nine more.
Garnett finished with eight points, nine rebounds and a season-high five steals.
The Celtics were coming off Friday night’s 94-87 victory at Houston. The Mavericks had been off since Wednesday night’s 113-106 home win over Chicago.
“They had three days off, had prep time for us, and we played last night, so to come back at the end and take the game away from them was huge for us,” Boston Coach Doc Rivers said.
Jason Terry added 18 points, and Shawn Marion had 16 for the Mavericks, who had won 14 of 15.
The Mavericks led by seven early in the fourth quarter, but Rondo converted layups on three straight Boston possessions down the stretch, giving the Celtics a 94-91 lead with 2:47 left.
Pierce drained a 3-pointer from the top of the key and Rondo scored on a layup to put Boston in front 99-93 with 1:18 remaining.
“Rondo was the key down the stretch,” Dallas center Brendan Haywood said. “He made plays and they really fed off his energy.”
RAPTORS 100, NETS 90: Chris Bosh scored 23 of his 36 points in the second half at East Rutherford, N.J., and Toronto kept New Jersey on the road to an NBA single-season record for losses.
Jarrett Jack added 15 points, and Hedo Turkoglu had 13 as the Raptors won for only the third time in 13 games and sent New Jersey (7-62) to its seventh straight loss.
BULLS 98, 76ERS 84: Derrick Rose scored 23 points in his return from a sprained left wrist, and Chicago snapped its losing streak at 10 games with a victory at Philadelphia.
Kirk Hinrich added 17 points and 11 assists, Brad Miller had 16 points, and Hakim Warrick 13 for the Bulls, 2½ games behind Toronto for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
HEAT 77, BOBCATS 71: Quentin Richardson scored all 18 of his points on first-half 3-pointers, Michael Beasley added 16 points and Miami won at home to pass Charlotte for sixth place in the Eastern Conference.
Dwyane Wade had 14 points on a poor shooting night, but made up for it with nine assists and five blocks to help Miami move a half-game ahead of Charlotte.
GRIZZLIES 123, WARRIORS 107: Rudy Gay scored 25 points, O. J. Mayo added 21 and Memphis sent Golden State to its 13th consecutive road loss.
JAZZ 106, HORNETS 86: Paul Millsap had 22 points and 15 rebounds, and Deron Williams added 17 points and 11 assists to help Utah win at Salt Lake City.
BUCKS 102, NUGGETS 97: Carlos Delfino had 26 points, and John Salmons added 21 as Milwaukee won at Denver despite not reaching its hotel until 3 a.m. following a double-overtime win at Sacramento.
NOTES
HORNETS: Forward David West was ejected late in the first quarter for a flagrant foul on Kyle Korver of Utah.
NUGGETS: Coach George Karl skipped the game against Milwaukee as he continues cancer treatment.
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