Kidd, Mavs Knock Off Celtics

I remember a time when an open jump shot for Jason Kidd was destined to turn into a rebound for some prospecting forward. One of the great point guards in NBA history, Kidd had also earned the nickname of Ason because he had no J. Over the years Kidd has evolved into a better shooter and last night it was his three-pointer that sealed a 101-97 Mavericks victory over the Celtics at the Garden. The Mavericks have swept the series from the Celts, having won a similarly close game in Dallas earlier in the season. Behind Dirk Nowitzki, Kidd, and Tyson Chandler the Mavericks look like a team that is built to play deep into June and is a serious contender for the NBA championship. The Celtics need to put last night's game behind them quickly because over the next four games they host the Magic, Lakers, and Heat sandwiched around a quick trip to Charlotte to play the Bobcats. This is a critical stretch for the Celtics as they test themselves against the best teams in the league.