Celtics, Mavericks get lopsided victories

Paul Pierce took the initiative and the Boston Celtics took control.

Pierce scored 24 points, Rajon Rondo had 20 and the defending champions beat the Chicago Bulls, 107-86, on Thursday night at Chicago to take a 2-1 lead in their first-round playoff series.

The teams split two dramatic games in Boston, but this one was never in doubt.

Rondo looked just fine after spraining his right ankle in Game 2 and missing practice Tuesday, turning in another dominant postseason performance. Besides making eight of 15 shots, he had 11 rebounds and six assists. He’s now averaging 22.7 points, 9.7 assists and 10.7 rebounds in the series.

Pierce finally asserted himself after two quiet games, making his first six shots and nine of 15 overall. Ray Allen scored 18 points, and the Celtics made 12 of 21 three-point shots.

Dallas 88, San Antonio 67 -- Instead of delivering his guaranteed hard foul on Tony Parker, Erick Dampier and the Mavericks slapped around the Spurs with tight defense, the return of Dirk Nowitzki’s shooting touch and the energy of their home crowd, turning it into an easy victory and a 2-1 lead in their first-round series.

Dampier drew the scrutiny of the league office for saying he would pop Parker on his first drive of this game, but it never happened.

San Antonio finished with its fewest points in a playoff game, while it was the fewest Dallas has ever given up in the postseason.

Nowitzki had 20 points and seven rebounds, hitting the bench for good once Dallas’ lead reached 30. Dampier had two points and nine rebounds.