DALLAS (AP) – Dirk Nowitzki had 29 points and 11 rebounds, and Michael Finley added 21 points as the Dallas Mavericks built a 28-point first-half lead and eased to a 113-94 victory over the Boston Celtics on Tuesday night.

Erick Dampier matched his season-high with 16 points and Jason Terry had a season-high 14 assists for Dallas.

Paul Pierce and Jiri Welsch had 17 points each to pace the Celtics, who’ve lost eight of their last nine meetings with the Mavericks.

The Mavericks, opening a stretch of five straight home games, improved to 9-6 at home. Dallas, 36-5 at home last season, had lost three of its previous four home games.

After trailing by 24 at halftime, Boston came out with more energy and started the third quarter with a 24-11 spurt to pull to 84-73. But Dallas recovered with a 7-0 run capped by Finley’s buzzer-beating jumper to take a 91-73 lead into the final quarter.

Dallas missed its first shot of the game, then converted its next nine in bolting to a 41-20 lead after one quarter. Dampier had 12 points and Nowitzki scored 11 in the opening quarter while the Mavericks shot 17-of-22. Dallas had nine layups and dunks in the first quarter, five dunks from Dampier.

Dallas went on to a 73-49 halftime advantage helped by a 16-0 late second-quarter run. The Mavericks were led by Nowitzki’s 20 first-half points.

Dallas was 28-for-43 from the floor in the first half (65 percent), rolling to its biggest lead (68-40) with 1:57 left until halftime.

Notes: Mavericks G-F Jerry Stackhouse sang the National Anthem, receiving a standing ovation from the crowd and hugs from teammates. …Stackhouse had missed the previous four games due to a sore right hand.

…Dallas G Marquis Daniels sat out with a sore left ankle, and coach Don Nelson said Daniels could miss a few more games. …Boston’s Ricky Davis argued a call with 6:51 left and was ejected. …Shawn Bradley of the Mavericks was ejected with 5:18 left for a flagrant foul when he threw an elbow at Justin Reed of the Celtics, and Stackhouse was ejected in the final minute after collecting his second technical. …The teams combined for nine technicals and two flagrant fouls.

AP-ES-12-28-04 2308EST