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DALLAS -- Dirk Nowitzki doesnt want the Dallas Mavericks feeling too comfortable during a franchise-record eight-game homestand. The Boston Celtics never let them rest easy in the opener. Nowitzki led another balanced scoring effort with 19 points, and the Mavericks held off several Boston runs in a 94-89 victory against the Celtics on Monday night. The Celtics wiped out most of two double-digit deficits in the second half and were within one in the final minute but couldnt avoid an 0-15 finish on the road against the Western Conference. "They just kept coming back at us," Dallas coach Rick Carlisle said. "Theyve got some young, aggressive guys that are hungry and they were hitting shots." The Mavericks followed their first win in more than two years over possible first-round playoff foe Oklahoma City by taking their third straight to get a season-high 14 games over .500. Dallas didnt have a 20-point scorer for the third time in four games, the exception being Nowitzkis 31-point night in a win at Utah. Monta Ellis had 17 points, and Devin Harris added 12. Jerryd Bayless had 19 points, including 12 in the fourth quarter, and Kris Humphries matched a season high with 14 rebounds for the Celtics, who lost their fifth straight game and 12th in the past 15. It was the second time in as many nights the Celtics made it interesting after trailing by 10 with 6 minutes to go. The first was an overtime loss at New Orleans, and this one was without Rajon Rondo, who sat on the second night of a back-to-back for the sixth time. He is skipping such games as he works his way back from right knee surgery. "Playing without Rondo, I thought Jerryd played fantastic, especially in that fourth quarter," Boston coach Brad Stevens said. "He gave us a chance to win." The Mavericks went up 90-85 when Brandan Wright had the last of his 10 points on a putback after three other misses, but the Celtics did the same thing at the other end, capped by a bucket from Kelly Olynyk, who had 16 points and nine rebounds. Avery Bradley stole the ball from Ellis and went in for a dunk to make it 90-89 with 21 seconds left, but Ellis hit two free throws and Bayless missed a driving shot, got the ball back and had a second attempt blocked by Vince Carter. "I think we were fighting and battling well," Bayless said. "I think everyone played well, but we werent able to pull it off tonight." Ellis, playing through an illness for the second straight night, had seven points in the fourth quarter, including a 3-pointer for an 85-80 lead with 2:16 remaining. He took three charges and stayed down for a minute or so after a hard one in the second half. "It feels good with a win, but Ive been having trouble breathing," said Ellis, who matched Sam Dalembert for the team lead in rebounds with seven and had four assists to go with five turnovers. "I really try to block it out and do whatever I need to do." Boston had four chances to get closer down 64-61 to start the fourth but missed three shots and had a turnover before Harris made a couple of free throws and Wright dunked off a feed from Carter to push the lead back to seven. The lead was back down to four when Harris and Wright hooked for their second alley-oop dunk and Harris poked the ball away from Phil Pressey, dove for the loose ball to grab it from Olynyk and threw a pass from the floor to Nowitzki running ahead of everyone for another dunk and a 74-66 lead. "I almost tore both of my flexors trying to chase that ball, but Im glad I got to it," said Nowitzki, who was 6 of 17 from the field. "That was a big play from Devin." The Celtics looked like they would go down without much of a fight early, falling behind 33-24 in the second quarter when Brandan Wright had an alley-oop dunk from Devin Harris in a combination thats getting more common. But Boston had the first of several big runs at 13-0 with baskets from five different players. Pressey hit one of his two first-half 3-pointers, Chris Johnson scored from long range and Bradley hit a layup. After stealing a pass for a dunk, Olynyk assisted on a three-point play by Jared Sullinger, who led all scorers with 11 in the first half and finished with 13. NOTES: Celtics F Jeff Green had five points on 2-of-12 shooting a night after matching his season high with 39 in the loss at New Orleans. ... Wright was 5 of 5 from the field and is shooting 71 per cent this month. ... Green and Sullinger matched Olynyk with nine rebounds as Boston outrebounded Dallas 57-36. The Celtics had a 21-6 edge in offensive rebounds. Faux Vapormax Pas Cher . "Im proud, obviously. Its been a long day, but now Im a Crystal Palace player, Im very happy," Bannan said. "The seasons been started now for a couple of weeks and Ive not featured at Villa. Vapormax Off White Solde . Watch the announcement live on TSN.ca at 12:30pm et/9:30am pt. This years honourees will be recognized at the 2014 Hockey Canada Foundation Celebrity Classic, scheduled for June 23-24 in Vancouver. http://www.vapormaxsolde.fr/basket-vapormax-off-white-grossiste.html .C. -- After a listless first half, the Washington Wizards used a big third quarter run to beat the Charlotte Bobcats Bradley Beal scored 21 points and the Wizards used a 17-0 run in the third quarter to take control of what had been a close game and beat the Bobcats 97-83 on Tuesday night. Nike Vapormax Femme Black Friday . City has reached new heights under manager Manuel Pellegrini as they transition from big spending/immediate impact to perennial contender. Yaya Toures seeming discontent Tuesday may complicate that, as does the little issue of Financial Fair Play. Vapormax Homme Moins Cher . Today, well look at five frontcourt players today, here from the Bay Area. 1. AMIR JOHNSON (Raptors): I cant figure out what the issue or problem is, but based upon what Im seeing, hes not right.MINNEAPOLIS -- The Toronto Blue Jays and the Minnesota Twins were given an unexpected day off because of the weather. They sure needed the extra time to warm back up from the night before. The Blue Jays-Twins game Wednesday was postponed more than seven hours before it was scheduled to begin, due to the unseasonable cold causing a spring storm to produce blowing snow all afternoon with some accumulation predicted at night. Since this week is Torontos only trip to Minnesota, the teams will play a day-night doubleheader Thursday. The forecast was calling for a high temperature of about 42 degrees Thursday but clear and dry conditions. The Blue Jays beat the Twins 9-3 Tuesday without precipitation problems, but the first-pitch temperature was 35 degrees. "Weve got a roof up there in Toronto, so we dont get exposed to it that much. Youve just got to be mentally tough," Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said after the game. Blue Jays starter Brandon Morrow had trouble gripping the ball and didnt finish the fourth inning. He escaped with only two runs allowed. "I didnt feel helpless. I was still trying on every pitch. But nothing was working," Morrow said. Third baseman Brett Lawrie didnt let the cold stop him from hitting a grand slam in the ninth inning, but he still felt it. "It just kind of hits you. It takes a little bit of getting used to," Lawrie said, adding: "Get your cold gear on and man up." One potential casualty of the cold was designated hitter Adam Linds back. He left the game Tuesday with tightness and has a history of back trouble. The Blue Jays held out centre fielder Colby Rasmus Tuesday because of hamstring tightness that forced him out Sunday at Baltimore. The cold could also work against R.A. Dickeys knuckleball, which thrives in humid, hot conditions. The Blue Jays switched their rotation to start Dickey in the matinee Thursday and use Dustin McGowan for the rescheduled game, which willl start six hours after the first one.dddddddddddd The Twins kept Kyle Gibson as their starter for the afternoon game, meaning Mike Pelfrey will take the mound Thursday night after having this turn bumped back. Pelfrey will try to bounce back from two rough appearances to start the season. Another pitcher in need of a rebound is reliever Jared Burton, the primary setup man. After posting a 2.18 ERA in 64 appearances in 2012, Burton had his ERA rise to 3.82 in 71 appearances last year. He was charged with nine losses. This season, he has allowed six hits, eight runs and three walks in five innings, including Lawries grand slam Tuesday. "I dont know whats going on with him right now. Hes not pitching with a lot of confidence," manager Ron Gardenhire said, adding: "Hes got good stuff. Hes got a track record. So weve just got to figure out a way to get him right." Burton said hes having trouble controlling his pitches, another byproduct of the April cold. "I think pitchers and hitters will both tell you that its tough at the beginning of the year with the weather and everything. Ive just got to do a better job of getting ahead of guys. Im behind everybody, and its a lot easier to hit when youre ahead in the count," he said. Burton expressed confidence hell bounce back. "I feel fine. Im healthy. Im just human. Were under a little bit of a microscope and when we struggle it shows. Ill figure it out. We all go through these phases. Its just a matter of stopping a slump and starting a streak," he said. NOTES: Since Target Field opened in 2010, the Twins have had nine weather-induced postponements, plus one game suspended by rain and finished the following day. Three of them came last April. ... Blue Jays closer Casey Janssen and shortstop Jose Reyes both played for Class A Dunedin on rehab assignments Tuesday. Reyes could rejoin the Blue Jays Friday at Cleveland, but Janssen is a little behind him. ' ' '