Mavericks vs. Celtics final score: Boston outlasts Dallas, 117-115

It took all four quarters and two overtime periods, but the Boston Celtics finally prevailed over the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday.

Behind a near triple-double from Rajon Rondo and 34 points from Paul Pierce, Boston won a marathon game, 117-115, over Dallas. Despite letting the Mavericks shoot 51 percent from the floor, the Celtics survived several late Dallas rallies for their 12th victory.

Midway through the third quarter, the Celtics held a 13-point lead and looked ready to put the game away. But Dallas whittled that down to six points by the start of the fourth, and took the lead, 95-94, for the first time in the second half on a Derek Fisher three-pointer with 1:47 left. Pierce answered with a turnaround jumper to give the Celtics the advantage, but a free throw from O.J. Mayo and two misses from Pierce and Rondo sent the game into overtime, 96-96.

In the first extra period, Boston once again went into the last minute with the lead after a Kevin Garnett jumper made it 105-103. But Mayo again delivered for Dallas, driving to the hoop for a layup with 11 seconds left to tie the game. Pierce was once more denied on a last-second shot attempt, and it was on to the second overtime at 107-107.

But the Mavericks ran out of gas in the second extra period, making just 3-of-8 shots and committing three turnovers. A Vince Carter three-pointer got them to within one at 111-110 with nine seconds left. But Boston iced the game at the free-throw line, hitting six straight attempts, to take home the win.

Pierce led all scorers with 34 points, adding six rebounds and four steals. Rondo came up a rebound shy of a triple-double, with 16 points, 15 assists and nine boards. Jason Terry, in his first game against Dallas since signing with Boston, had a quiet night with only 10 points on 3-of-10 shooting.

For Dallas, Mayo had 24 points, but turned the ball over nine times, including twice in the second overtime. As a team, the Mavericks turned the ball over 27 times in the game. Shawn Marion double-doubled with 16 points and 11 rebounds, and Darren Collison came off the bench to score 20 points.