LeMahieu finished 2 for 4 to raise his average to .349

BOSTON -- The Celtics dont want to rely solely on Isaiah Thomas to win.But on some nights, putting the ball in the All-Star guards hands is simply the best option.Thomas scored 22 of his 30 points in the fourth quarter in Bostons 90-83 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday night.He scored 20 of Bostons final 24 points to help the Celtics beat back a late Mavericks surge.Avery Bradley added 18 points and 13 rebounds.After the Mavericks took a 70-66 lead, Thomas scored Bostons next 13 points to put the Celtics back in front 79-76. They never trailed again.After one of the baskets late in the run Thomas ran down the court and flashed two thumbs up.I guess I just like that quarter, Thomas said. Sometimes guys get a little tighter, and then the pressure gets a little tougher for them. I guess I like the pressure.Harrison Barnes led the Mavericks with 28 points. Wesley Matthews added 22.Dallas, which was already missing several players because of injuries, lost two more. Starter Deron Williams exited in the second quarter with a left calf injury, and J.J. Barea was helped off the court in the fourth quarter after straining his left calf as well.Coach Rick Carlisle said it appears Barea will be out for a while, but added that he didnt think it was real serious. He said its his understanding that Williams just experienced some tightness.The Celtics outrebounded Dallas 53-32, which coach Brad Stevens said is a welcomed sign for a team that struggled in that department early in the season.Maybe its the law of averages, and some just bounced our way, Stevens said. But were defending at a better rate than we were.TIP-INSMavericks: Have lost three straight. ... Had a season-low 31 points at the first half. ... Dirk Nowitzki missed his fifth straight game with a right Achilles strain.Celtics: Thomas has scored 20 or more points in each of the first 11 games of the season. ... Scored a season-low 90 points. ...Tied their season high with 19 turnovers. ... Bostons 10-point second quarter was its lowest scoring output in a second quarter this season. ... Al Horford remains in the NBA concussion protocol and sat out his eighth straight game. Jae Crowder missed his seventh consecutive game with a sprained left ankle.TEAM MEETINGCeltics guard Marcus Smart said the team held a meeting after its blowout loss to the Wizards on Nov. 9 to help refocus its commitment on the defensive end.It was no coaches, just us, Smart said. We had to look ourselves in the mirror and come to the conclusion that it is on us and were the ones playing and that we have to get it together.Bradley said the conversation was frank and honest.Just that we need to hold each other accountable, he said. We werent playing to our ability. We had two or three guys playing hard at the defensive end, but the other three guys werent. And we needed everyone playing hard consistently as a team. Tonight I feel like was one our best defensive games.NO FREEBIESThere werent many trips to the free throw line in the first half for either team. The Celtics were just 2 for 6 in the half, and the Mavericks missed their lone attempt in the first quarter. Neither team attempted a free throw in the second quarter.INJURY UPDATEStevens said Crowder would practice Friday, but that he does not expect him to play Saturday against Golden State. Stevens said his last report on Horford was that the big man had a great workout on Wednesday.Carlisle said Dirk Nowitzki is making progress as well.It feel likes hes getting close, he said.UP NEXTMavericks: Return home Friday to host the Grizzlies, before heading back on the road for trips to Orlando and San Antonio.Celtics: Host the Warriors Friday, and then begin a three-game trip with a stop in Detroit on Saturday.---Follow Kyle Hightower on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/khightower Brooklyn Nets Store . 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DENVER -- Its hard to say what was more shocking: Nolan Arenado failing to come through in the clutch or the Gold Glove winner committing a throwing error.Neither happens happen often to the All-Star third baseman, who is generating some MVP buzz for the season hes having.Arenados errant throw paved the way to a game-altering inning as the Colorado Rockies lost 5-3 to the St. Louis Cardinals on Monday night. He also lined out to end the game with the potential tying runs on base.That spoiled a fine outing by Tyler Anderson (5-6). The rookie allowed five runs -- two earned -- in seven solid innings and is 5-2 with a 3.00 ERA in 12 starts at Coors Field.He ended up getting through seven, so it was a good outing, Rockies manager Walt Weiss said.The slick-fielding Arenado made a costly throwing error in the fourth with the score tied at 2. Cardinals pitcher Carlos Martinez then delivered two-out, two-run double, and Matt Carpenter added a run-scoring single.We have seen (Arenado) make that play. He makes it look easy and that wasnt an easy play, Weiss said. And then the throw was a little high. It was a tough play.In the ninth, pinch-hitter Ryan Raburn hit a solo homer off Kevin Siegrist to make it 5-3. After allowing a single to Charlie Blackmon, Siegrist struck out DJ LeMahieu before walking Carlos Gonzalez.That brought up Arenado, who flied out to left field to end the game.Arenado drove in a run earlier, giving him an NL-best 124 RBI. He also leads the league in homers (38), which is why Weiss believes Arenado should garner some MVP votes despite playing on a 72-78 squad.One of the best players in the league, Weiss said. But I dont think this will be the last time hes in that conversation.LeMahieu finished 2 for 4 to raise his average to .349 and take a slight lead over Washingtons Daniel Murphy in the NL batting race. Murphy is hitting .348.Martinez labored most of the game. Not with his pitches, but catching his breeath.dddddddddddd.He threw five effective innings despite struggling to take a deep breath in the thin air. Martinez, who turns 25 on Wednesday, gave himself an early birthday present by holding Colorado to two runs while striking out six. The right-hander is 9-1 on the road this season.The altitude affects everybody a little differently, Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said. It affected him today, for sure.TRAINERS ROOMRockies: There are no plans for surgery on the broken left hand of 1B Mark Reynolds after he was hit by a pitch Sunday, ending his season. Its a tough break for Mark, Weiss said.HOLD THE ONIONSA launched baseball in batting practice left a burger joint in quite a pickle.The Helton Burger Shack located behind the bleachers in left field was closed Monday after a ball broke the glass protecting the prep area.No official word on whose liner actually broke the window pane -- Twitter conversations credited injured Cardinals outfielder Matt Holliday -- but it wasnt the restaurants namesake; Todd Helton retired after the 2013 season.BAD BLOOD?The Rockies have some history with Martinez. In July 2015, things got a little heated after he hit LeMahieu with a pitch.Martinez didnt think there was any purpose to a pitch that plunked him Monday night, even though it did sting.I dont think it was any retaliation. That happened last year. Its a new year, Martinez said through a translator. I wouldnt like to think that. I think it just got away.Anderson downplayed it, too.It was a ball that cut and hit him in the shin, he explained.UP NEXTCardinals: With 132 wins, RHP Adam Wainwright (11-9, 4.51 ERA) tries to move closer to tying Dizzy Dean (134) for sixth on the teams career list.Rockies: LHP Jorge De La Rosa (8-8, 5.22) is 4-0 with a 4.01 ERA in four starts against St. Louis at Coors Field. ' ' '