Nowitzki has never been consistently better than he has been when playing the Celtics. Nowitzki's 27.3 Points per game against Boston are his most versus any competitor, however the NBA's tightest defensive club ought to bring a tough task Friday evening at TD Garden.
The Mavs ( 33 - 15 ) dropped 7 of the 9 matchups Nowitzki skipped having a sore knee in late December & early January, & lost 3 of 4 upon his come back.
All of the sudden, they have restored the form that permitted them to pick up 17 of 18 before Nowitzki's injury. Dallas put in 50.0 % & out-boarded the Knicks 54 - 34 while sailing to a 113 - 97 win at MSG on Wednesday evening.
The Mavs have put in 104.5 points within their 6 straight victories, 14.6 more than during their last thirteen games, however Nowitzki thinks defending is producing the difference. Dallas restricted the high powered Knicks to 45 2nd half points.
His offensive attack did not hurt. Following putting in thirteen during the 1st half to hit precisely 22, 000, Nowitzki got 8 points in 2.5 minutes early during the 3rd, part of a 26 - 6 rally that provided the Mavs a twenty-four point advantage.
Boston ( 37 - 11 ) are well aware. in addition to his best for his career 27.3 Points per game versus Boston, his average at TD Garden, 27.7, is his finest at any stadium.
Nowitzki got thirty-seven points there during his previous visit, a 99 - 90 Dallas victory January 18th, 2010. He had twenty-five on their home court versus Boston on November 8th as the Mavs put in 50.0 % during a 89 - 87 win.
Boston has not allowed any of their previous ten competitors make half their attempts, a streak in which they've gone 8 - 2. Boston have given up 90.0 Points per game in that span, 1.5 beneath their NBA finest average, & wrapped up a 3 - 1 western road trip having a 95 - 90 victory at at Arco Arena vs the Kings on Tuesday.
Boston kept Sacramento to 36 2nd half points as they climbed out of a 9 point deficit, dug mainly when Boston's 2nd unit was on the court. The team's previous 8 competitors have put in 41.1 points & put in 40.2 % following half-time.
While Nowitzki has excelled versus Boston, the player picked 1 position behind him during the 1998 draft has done well against the Mavs. Paul Pierce has put in 25.7 points in eleven games with the Mavs since the beginning of the 2005 - 2006 season, his most versus any competitor in that period.
Boston is 16 - 0 versus the East on their home court, however only 6 - 3 against West competitors there.