Celtics cannot close late comeback in Dallas, lose in overtime 118-113

The Celtics were not able to finish their epic second half comeback in Dallas and lose in overtime 118-113.  This loss ends their three-game winning streak and puts them at 22-20 on the season.  It was Jae Crowder's first homecoming since being traded from Dallas.

The Celtics played one of their worst first quarters of the season, scoring just 16 points to the Mavs' 29.  The Mavs held Isaiah Thomas (0/3), Jared Sullinger (0/3), Jae Crowder (0/6), and Amir Johnson (0/0) scoreless.  Crowder and Thomas could not shoot a BB into an ocean.  Marcus Smart was the only positive part of the first quarter, scoring 11 points and doing his Marcus Smart things.  Boston's inability to help out the point guard resulted in a deficit that seemed impossible to overcome, especially because nothing was happening on the offensive end.

The second quarter was slightly better than the first.  The Celtics began to knock down some three point shots; Avery Bradley found his stroke.  But Wes Matthews and Zaza Pachulia kept up.  The Celtics ended the first half down, 52-39.  IT4 scored his only two points on an ANGRY drive to the basket towards the end of the half.

The third quarter was electric for the Celtics.  Shots began to fall, Thomas finally found his stroke, and Boston was slowly creeping up on Dallas.  That basket must be cursed because the Mavericks found themselves struggling from deep and inside, similar to how the Celtics were in the first half.  The Celtics put up a nice defensive effort, holding the hot Wes Matthews.  The Cs outscored the Mavs 33-18 in the quarter, taking the lead...their first lead of the game.

The fourth quarter was easily the most exciting of the four as both teams were able to convert.  It was a quarter of acrobatic shots, and-1s, and back and forth lead changes.  Kelly Olynyk would hit one of his threes, then Chandler Parsons would bullet his no-arc shot at the rim.  Somehow, those go in.  Forget about how physical this half was...this quarter was crazy physical.  The Mavs went on a late 10-1 run to take the lead 90-87 with a sweet spin move by Deron Williams and a lucky put back from Parsons.  Everything was going well for Dallas...until Isaiah Thomas finished a fast break layup to put the Celtics within one point with a minute left in regulation.  Jared Sullinger blocked a shot which led to a Jae Crowder layup to put the Celtics up by one.  The very next play, Evan Turner blatantly fouled Dirk Nowitzki (the wrong guy to have on the line).  DIrk hit both.

Sullinger tried backing down Zaza in the paint, but he put up a great defensive fight and Sullinger missed the shot.  That led to even more foul shots for Dallas, putting them up by three.

In desperation time, Jae Crowder was fouled by Raymond Felton in the act of shooting a three and was sent to the line with 6.7 seconds left.  He made all three.

OVERTIME.

The Mavs got off to a nice start in overtime with a quick three from Parsons and a shot clock chuck from Deron Williams but the Celtics hung on.  Williams knocked down a three but Smart answered with one of his own.  And then D-Will answered back with yet another clutch three.  Ultimately, Dallas buried Boston with some incredibly clutch shooting by its veterans.  They made 4 three point shots in overtime.

It was a hard fought second half for the Celtics, but their efforts weren't enough to seal the deal.  They will travel to Toronto on Wednesday to try to take down the number 2 team in the East.