ALLAS - The timing looked so perfect. Two days removed from an improbable win against the world champion Lakers, the Celtics took the floor at American Airlines Center last night seemingly blessed once again. They were playing a Dallas team bereft of two starters and a critical substitute, thanks to a trade earlier in the day.

But the Celtics couldn't capitalize against the undermanned Mavericks (eight available bodies) and fell apart down the stretch, dropping a 98-92 decision before a capacity crowd of 20,013. Boston simply went stagnant in the fourth quarter and had no answer all night to Dirk Nowitzki, who had a monster game (33 points, 23 rebounds, 8 assists, 4 blocked shots) for Dallas.