Mazzulla's fighting mentality pays dividends in Dallas

Celtics fend off determined Mavericks offense to sneak win in Game 3 thriller

DALLAS — Joe Mazzulla is a big fan of UFC and splices highlights of the bouts into some of the basketball videos he shows to the Boston Celtics.

He doesn't do it for entertainment purposes or to make players laugh. He does it for one simple reason. He wants the Celtics to have a fighters' mentality.

"If you've ever been in a fight with someone, and you think you're about to beat 'em, you usually get sucker-punched," said Mazzulla, currently in his sophomore year at the helm of the Celtics. "The closer you are to beating them up, the closer you are to losing."