Kevin Garnett scored 12 first-half points, but the Boston Celtics trail the Dallas Mavericks, 54-51, at halftime.
Ray Allen scored seven points and Paul Pierce, Nate Robinson and Marquis Daniels all scored six points for Boston. Rajon Rondo added four points, five assists and three steals in the opening half.
Jose Juan Barea, a graduate of Northeastern University, lead the Mavericks with 11 points in the first half. Jason Terry score nine points and Dirk Nowitzki and Tyson Chandler each had eight points for Dallas.
Boston made 23-of-40 field goals (57.5%) and 2-of-5 threes (40%) while Dallas hit 22-of-39 shots (56.4%) and 6-of-8 shots beyond the arc (75%) in the first half.