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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/khightowerIan McCoshen Jersey . Vettel, who has already clinched his fourth straight F1 title, enters the finale with a chance to equal Michael Schumachers 13 victories in a year and match the record of nine consecutive wins by Alberto Ascari in the 1952 and 1953 seasons. Aaron Ekblad Jersey . This should be celebrated because it will not always be this way. With the amount of money given to players by their clubs these days, it is a wonder that so many of those teams allow the sport to continue to take away many of their assets so they can play for a different team in the middle of their season. http://www.hockeypanthersofficialonline.com/aleksander-barkov-hockey-jersey/ . -- San Francisco 49ers linebacker Ahmad Brooks was fined $15,570 by the NFL on Wednesday for his hit on Saints quarterback Drew Brees last Sunday. Frank Vatrano Panthers Jersey . -- The boos poured down on Tom Brady and the New England Patriots at the end of a horrible first half. Frank Vatrano Jersey . Thousands of Southern California fans enveloped the Trojans to celebrate an improbable win secured by an interim coach, an inconsistent kicker and a thin defence that wouldnt break.JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Watching cornerback Jalen Ramsey knock down a pass in the final minute against Chicago was nothing new for the Jacksonville Jaguars.They see it nearly every Friday -- in walkthrough.Blake Bortles has even stopped throwing Ramseys way during the slow-motion period, tired of Ramsey swatting away ever lob pass in a session designed for completions.I never want to get a ball caught on me wherever, whenever, Ramsey said Monday, a day after a 17-16 victory at the Bears. Like if someone threw a ball right now in the locker room, Id probably try to bat it down. Its just a mindset.It proved to be a winning attitude Sunday.Ramsey made a diving deflection on a fourth-and-10 pass to Alshon Jeffery, a game-sealing play that was the latest and greatest for Jacksonvilles remarkable rookie. Jeffery caught six passes for 90 yards against Ramsey in the first half, but had just one reception for three yards after the break.This is what I asked for, Ramsey said. I wouldnt want it any other way. I want to go up against the best and not only make a name for myself, but I feel like when I go up against the best and I do well, that can help the whole defense.Shutting down a No. 1 threat or a No. 1 option helps other guys make plays.Ramsey, the fifth overall pick in the NFL draft, has quickly become Jacksonvilles top cornerback and could be one of the best in the league by the end of the season. He kept Green Bays Jordy Nelson in check in the season opener. He frustrated Baltimores Steve Smith last month. He held Indianapolis T.Y. Hilton to 42 yards receiving in London earlier this month.And he was at his best in the second half against Jeffery, especially on Chicagos final play.Ramsey remembered what he had heard all week: that the Bears failed to get Jeffery the ball on their final play against the Colts last week. So he figured quarterback Brian Hoyer would be looking for Jeffery this time around.I knew it was coming. I knew they were goiing to Alshon.dddddddddddd Period. I knew it, Ramsey said.They did, and Ramsey was ready. He undercut the dig route, batted the ball away and started Jacksonvilles celebration. It was just the third time in franchise history the Jaguars (2-3) won a game in which they trailed by double digits in the fourth quarter.As great as the final 15 minutes were for Jacksonville, the first three quarters showed the team still has plenty to work on before hosting the Oakland Raiders (4-2) on Sunday:-Bortles, who threw his seventh interception of the season and also fumbled, has to limit turnovers . He also has to find a way to get receiver Allen Robinson and tight end Julius Thomas more involved.-The Jaguars, last in the NFL in rushing, have to do something to improve their ground game .I cant argue with the run game, coach Gus Bradley said. Its not coming along. Some of the same things are popping up. It all comes back to why arent we playing fast? It doesnt look to me that when were out there the offensive line, tight ends and everybody, were executing.It comes down to execution, technique, but theres just not a certain speed or urgency in our play. Whether its too complicated, something is holding us back from playing as aggressively as we need to in the run game. Thats where our attention is now. How do we get this fixed?The Jaguars have made a significant turnaround on the defensive side of the ball, moving from 24th in yards in 2015 to eighth this year.Ramsey, who likely will shadow Amari Cooper this week, has been a big reason for the jump.He doesnt want to lose in checkers, defensive coordinator Todd Wash said. I think thats one of the things that is going to make him a special player throughout his career is how competitive he is.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and AP NFL Twitter feed: http://twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '