The Mavericks and Phoenix Suns used to fight for the top seed in the Western Conference. Now they're scrapping for the final playoff spot.
Both teams changed coaches and philosophies in the offseason, but both teams have struggled. Now they both have blowout losses at Boston -- the Suns lost 104-87 on Jan. 19 -- that were never remotely competitive. The Mavs' 124-100 defeat Sunday, which was a 30-point deficit most of the game, capped a weird four-game road trip that included two wins and two losses.
The two losses came by a combined 58 points at Milwaukee and Boston. For a team that talks so much about defense, the Mavs are far from a consistent defensive basketball team.
The Celtics scored 38 points in the first quarter and 74 in the first half. It became the fourth blowout loss this month: by 20 at Memphis, 28 at Phoenix, 34 at Milwaukee and 24 at Boston.
It could have served as a major momentum swing, but the Boston embarrassment instead leads into another gut-check situation with an in-and-out home game Wednesday against the Warriors before a Florida road swing to Miami (Saturday) and Orlando (Monday).
CELTICS 124, MAVERICKS 100: Dirk Nowitzki missed his first seven shots and the Mavs never got into a rhythm, mainly because they never decided to play defense. Boston led 74-47 at the half after with an offense that ran like a layup drill and 3-point shooting practice. Paul Pierce needed only eight points because Ray Allen (four 3-pointers), Eddie House (seven 3-pointers) and Kevin Garnett all scored 23. Jason Terry led the Mavs with 27 points.
