Jason Gildon (77) for the most sacks in the Steelers storied defensive history. Its likely Hall of Famers Jo

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/khightower Cheap Shoes USA . With the first unit struggling of late and Amir Johnson - one of the teams iron men - hobbling on an injured right ankle, Patterson knew he could get the nod in a challenging matchup against one of the leagues up and coming players at his position. Cheap Shoes Free Shipping .ca looks back at the stories and moments that made the year memorable. http://www.discountshoescheap.com/ . During the athletes parade, the 23-strong Ukrainian team was represented by a lone flagbearer in an apparent protest at the presence of Russian troops in Ukraines Crimean peninsula. Discount Shoes Online . Shot outdoors against the stunning backdrop of Banff, Alta., the networks 30-minute original production airs tonight at 8pm et/5pm pt on TSN2. The four All-Star teams will play for $100,000 in prize money during TSNs annual skins game, airing live this weekend on TSN from The Fenlands Banff Recreation Centre. Wholesale Shoes Near Me . 10 Texas Rangers jersey for one last time. Young formally announced his retirement Friday after returning to Rangers Ballpark, his baseball home for all but the last of his 13 major league seasons. CLEVELAND -- LeVeon Bell scored on a 1-yard touchdown run -- long after time expired in the first half -- and the Pittsburgh Steelers recorded eight sacks and snapped a four-game losing streak with a 24-9 win Sunday over the winless Cleveland Browns.The Steelers (5-5) scored eight points with zeroes showing on the clock before halftime after they were awarded two extra plays because of defensive penalties against the Browns (0-11).Steelers defensive tackle Javon Hargrave recovered a fumble by QB Josh McCown for a TD with 3:36 left to seal Pittsburghs win. The Steelers came in with a league-low 13 sacks before unloading on the Browns.Bell finished with a season-high 146 yards rushing as the Steelers improved to 2/3 on the road and avoided an embarrassing loss to the NFLs worst team.Ben Roethlisberger improved to 20-2 in starts against Cleveland, still paying for not drafting the Ohio native in 2004.Making it worse, Roethlisbergers 10 wins in Cleveland match Derek Anderson for the most home wins by a Browns quarterback since 1999.Cody Kessler sustained a concussion -- his second this season -- late in the third quarter. Kessler was being dragged down when he was hit by Steelers linebacker Lawrence Timmons, who launched himself and was called for unnecessary roughness.Cleveland had 33 yards rushing in losing its 14th straight going back to last season. McCown replaced Kessler and threw a 14-yard TD pass to Gary Barnidge in the fourth quarter.On a blustery day, the Steelers turned to their running game and a defense that hasnt been up to Pittsburghs standards. Stephon Tuitt had 2 1/2 sacks and the Steelers spent much of the afternoon delivering hard hits.Pittsburgh dominated the first half, but only led 6-0 before the strange final moments.Starting at the Cleveland 41, Roethlisberger drove the Steelers to the Browns 3 with 8 seconds left. On second down, Roethlisbergers pass to Antonio Brown in the end zone was incomplete as time ran out.However, Browns defensive back Briean Boddy-Calhoun was called for holding, giving Pittsburgh another chance.Agaiin, Roethlisberger looked for Brown, who was dragged to the ground by star cornerback Joe Haden.dddddddddddd Pass interference was called and the Steelers took advantage of a second untimed play as Bell bowled over the goal line to make it 12-0.The Steelers, who went 0-for-4 on 2-point conversions a week ago in a loss to Dallas, connected this time as Roethlisberger threw to tight end David Johnson.The miscues were a microcosm of Clevelands miserable season. The Browns are young, and unfortunately theyre taking their lumps during a massive rebuild.Three teams in NFL history previously lost their first 11 games before winning: the 2000 Chargers (who finished 1-15), the 1984 Bills (who finished 2-14) and the 1975 Chargers (who finished 2-12).SUPER STEELERPittsburgh linebacker James Harrison is the clubs career sack leader.Harrison drilled Kessler in the third quarter to pass Jason Gildon (77) for the most sacks in the Steelers storied defensive history. Its likely Hall of Famers Joe Greene, Jack Lambert or Jack Ham could have more, but the NFL didnt recognize sacks as an official statistic until 1982.Harrison has 77 1/2 sacks.MOVING UPRoethlisberger passed Hall of Famer Fran Tarkenton (3,686) for 12th place on the completions list.GRIFFIN GETTING CLOSEBrowns quarterback Robert Griffin III, who has been out since breaking a bone in his left shoulder in the season opener, did some conditioning drills, threw -- and even drop kicked a ball through the uprights -- before the game.Griffin has been cleared to practice this week and will undergo another medical exam to see if he can take contact.If he continues to progress, Griffin will likely start one of Clevelands final five games. The Browns have a bye on Dec. 4, which would give RG3 additional time to get ready.UP NEXTSteelers: At Colts on Thanksgiving night.Browns: Host Giants next Sunday.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '