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Pierce, Rondo Lead Celtics Past Mavericks

Paul Pierce scored 29 points, Rajon Rondo added 20 points and 10 rebounds, and the Boston Celtics stretched their winning streak to four games with a 102-93 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday night.

Dirk Nowitzki had 28 points and Jason Terry 18 to pace the Mavericks, who had won 14 of 15.

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.

Ray Allen had 21 points for the Celtics, 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 Nowitzki preferential treatment.

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.

Shawn Marion had 16 points for Dallas.

Allen hit a pair of 3-pointers to help Boston open the third quarter with a 13-5 run for a 61-52 advantage.

Pierce scored eight of Boston's last 10 points in the third and the Celtics took a 73-72 edge into the fourth quarter.

Marion had 10 of Dallas' first 14 points, but Pierce scored 10 first-quarter points as Boston carried a 30-24 lead into the second quarter.

Boston held a 48-47 halftime lead despite Terry's nine second-quarter points.

This program aired on March 21, 2010. The audio for this program is not available.

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