DALLAS — Kevin Garnett was frustrated and sitting on the Boston bench after getting three fouls in a matter of seconds while battling with Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas' lone All-Star.

Celtics coach Doc Rivers was already in the locker room because of the same sequence late in the third quarter, ejected after two quick technical fouls.

When Garnett finally returned with less then 5 minutes left, Paul Pierce had just given the Celtics their first lead. And they would go on to a physical 99-92 victory last night over the Mavericks.

Pierce scored 18 of his 31 points in the fourth quarter, but gave plenty of credit to his argumentative coach.

"It gave us a nice little spark," Pierce said. "It can go one of two ways. The coach is gone in the last game before the All-Star break, you can pack it in. But this group is very competitive. We're going to fight."

Boston (44-11), the defending champion, goes into the break with the most victories in the NBA. The Celtics trailed by as many as 15 points in the third quarter.

Pierce's tiebreaking 11-footer gave the Celtics a 93-91 lead. At the other end, he took an elbow to the head from a charging Nowitzki, who was called for the foul. Then Pierce made another step-back jumper, from 14 feet, to seal the game.

"I got in my rhythm," Pierce said. "We had a play that was working. I got into my sweet spot and took the shots."

HEAT 95, BULLS 94

Shawn Marion's dunk with 1.1 seconds left lifted Miami over Chicago, which got 34 points from Ben Gordon. Dwyane Wade scored eight points of his 24 points in the fourth quarter and found Marion for the decisive dunk.

WARRIORS 105, BLAZERS 98

Corey Maggette had 24 points, Stephen Jackson and Ellis each scored 20 and host Golden State made 8 of 8 free throws after a dunk by Greg Oden with 25 seconds remaining brought Portland to 97-93.

NOTES

Baylor sues Clippers: One day after filing a discrimination suit against the Los Angeles Clippers and the NBA, Elgin Baylor provided insight into his action against the team for whom he served as general manager for 22 years and the league in which he excelled as a player for 14 seasons.

"The way I was treated by the NBA and the Clippers was unfair and in many ways discriminatory. It was wrong," Baylor said at a news conference at the Los Angeles office of his lawyer Carl Douglas. "We are forced to take this action because our effort to resolve this dispute quietly were ignored. So I look forward to having my day in court."