1986 Cs BEAT DALLAS, MOVE TO 21-5

They always have an answer. Whenever a Celtic team loses a game, look for the kind of response they gave to a sellout crowd and the Dallas Mavericks at Boston Garden last night.

As if to squelch any notion that Boston was slipping, coach K.C. Jones turned the Celtics loose for a 137-117 devastation of the Texans.

Never mind that Dallas has yet to beat the Celtics in its five-year history. With Larry Bird pouring in 35 points and Kevin McHale adding 28, the youthful Mavericks couldn't have had much of a chance even if they'd recruited both Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell to play center, the slot which is supposed to be all that keeps them from being a contender.

The Celtics bolted from a 93-82 lead after three quarters and finished with a 44-point flourish that was capped by rookie Sam Vincent's slam jam with three seconds left.

Bird hit 14 of 27 shots and took over the game in the final period with 17 points. Yet he was almost overshadowed by Danny Ainge, who finished with 20 points.

Ainge was a force of another dimension with his long-range missiles, finishing 9 for 13. Two were of the three-point variety that thwarted Dallas comebacks in the third quarter.

Ainge also had 13 assists, two short of his career high. As a team, Boston shot 57 percent (59 for 104).

The Mavericks came prepared for Boston's strong inside game. But when the Celtics went up top from the opening tap, it was only a matter of time before the young visitors became just another group of Not Ready for Prime Time Players.

"We just weren't going to win this game tonight," said coach Dick Motta. "Halfway through the fourth quarter, you knew it. That's when (Bird) just took it over. And Ainge was hitting his outside shots. If Ainge hits his outside shot like that, they can beat the Lakers."

In the last couple of games, the Celtics have been sluggish, losing two of three. But last night they roared to a 37-24 lead in the first period.

The Mavericks are no slouches. With James Donaldson at center, they figure to contend in the NBA's Midwest Division with Houston and Denver. But raw talent cannot make up for experience. The Celtics answered every challenge with one of their own.

Credit Bird for most of that. He was 5 for 17 in the Celtics' 116-108 loss at Chicago Tuesday and All World last night.

"They didn't name him MVP last year because he's pretty," said Motta.

Bird displayed a nice touch, both from long range and around the basket. He played with anger and put on his fourth-quarter display despite picking up a fifth foul very early in the period.

"Tonight was very good for him," said Jones. "His inside game was good. But I think it was a matter of hesitation on his outside shot. That's not Larry Bird. As a team, we were walking in Chicago. Tonight we came out running."

And run they did, especially in the fourth quarter. With Boston ahead, 93-82, Bird opened it with a scoop layup after driving the baseline. Then he finished off a fast break. Next Bird sank a three-point shot and had nine of the first 11 points to give the Celtics a 104-93 lead. He had four more layups for baskets as the Celtics broke the game wide open, and finally left with Boston leading, 128-106.

The Mavericks must have read the wrong scouting report, said Robert Parish (5 for 6, 12 points).

"Sure, Larry has had some problems," he said. "But you can never take for granted that a man of his talent will stay in a slump. They made some mistakes on defense against him, and those layups just took the starch out of them.

"I'm a little surprised that we had a blowout because Dallas has always been a tough team for us. But that's the way we're capable of playing every game all year. We just haven't been doing it consistently."

The Mavericks, who got 20 points from rookie Detlef Schrempf, had no excuses for losing this one. None were necessary.

"You hate to lose," said Jay Vincent, who finally got to play against his brother Sam. "But we're growing up. We're not youngsters anymore. We're all in our fourth and fifth years. We'll win our share."