DALLAS -- Dirk Nowitzki doesnt want the Dallas Mavericks feeling too comfortable during a franchise-record eight-game homestand. George Hill Cavaliers Jersey . 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. J.R. Smith Jersey . Footballs governing body said Tuesday that of the 2,577,662 tickets allocated for this years tournament, 1,041,418 have gone to people in Brazil. The U. Dylan Windler Jersey . Goldeyes third baseman Ryan Pineda drove in three runs and the pitching staff didnt allow an earned run, as Winnipeg downed Kansas City 6-3 in American Association exhibition action at CommunityAmerica Ballpark in Kansas. https://www.thecavalierslockerroom.com/Brad-Daugherty-City-Edition-Jersey/ . PETERSBURG, Fla.After both picked up a much-needed victory to begin the week, the Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames look to come out of the holiday break with a second straight victory on Friday night in the third installment this season of the Battle for Alberta. The Oilers were in the midst of a season-high six-game slide before knocking off the Winnipeg Jets 6-2 on Monday. Taylor Hall had a goal and two assists as Edmonton put the game away with a three-goal third period. Hall set up David Perrons goal with 3:20 to go in the second period that snapped a 2-2 tie and joined Jeff Petry and Nail Yakupov as the third-period goal scorers. Jordan Eberle and Sam Gagner also lit the lamp. The Oilers had scored just six goals and been shut out three times over their losing streak. "We stuck with it and were finally rewarded for our hard work," Edmonton head coach Dallas Eakins said of his teams perseverance. "We had a good start and we were able to maintain it." Ilya Bryzgalov made 18 saves in Edmontons first win since Dec. 10. The Oilers have not won two in a row since a three-game run from Nov. 16-21. The Flames brought an 0-2-2 winless stretch to a close on Monday with a 4-3 shootout win over the St. Louis Blues, getting a game-tying goal from defenseman Mark Giordano with 5.1 seconds left in regulation. After St. Louis Patrik Berglund was calleed for roughing, Calgary pulled goaltender Reto Berra and Giordano ripped home a one-time feed from Jiri Hudler. Ante Zizic Cavaliers Jersey. "We felt like the last three or four games weve been playing really well, but we havent been getting the results," Giordano said. "Against one of the best teams in the league to come back and win in that way, it leaves a good feeling. Its going to be a nice Christmas break for sure." Hudler and Mike Cammalleri had a goal and an assist each, while Berra ended with 32 saves. Calgary center Matt Stajan did limp into the dressing room in overtime after getting hit and his status for tonights second contest of a five-game homestand is unknown. These two rivals have split two meetings this season, with the Oilers notching a 4-2 victory in Calgary on Nov. 16 before the Flames responded with a 2-1 overtime decision in Edmonton on Dec. 7. Calgary has won 12 of the previous 17 meetings overall and 11 of the last 14 at home. Berra was in net for the first two meetings this season, posting a 1.97 goals against average. Bryzgalov is 10-7-1 with a 2.69 GAA in 18 career meetings with the Flames, while Devan Dubnyk is 5-4-2 with a 2.46 GAA versus them. He started the previous two encounters. It is unknown which goaltender will start tonight as Edmonton is also set to host Bryzgalovs former Philadelphia Flyers club on Saturday. ' ' '