Nowitzki held scoreless in Boston, much to dismay of Celtics

There were 18,624 fans in attendance at TD Garden on Friday rooting for respected NBA veteran Dirk Nowitzki to hit a shot as the Dallas Mavericks battled the hometown Boston Celtics. Even some Celtics wanted the 40-year-old sharpshooter to get on the scoreboard.

It just wasn't meant to be on this night, as Nowitzki missed all 10 of his shot attempts in 16 minutes of action off the bench in a 114-93 Celtics victory that could be his final appearance in Beantown.

Friday marked the first time in the 13-time All-Star's storied career that he failed to record a point in a game in which he played double-digit minutes.

"(The Celtics) were trying to make me score at the end," said Nowitzki afterward, according to ESPN's Chris Forsberg. "On the one switch, I think it was (Brad) Wanamaker, he didn’t even put his hands up and I still came up real short. … I wish I would have at least made one."

Had Nowitzki converted a single field goal, he would've passed Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant for the most career points scored by an opposing Western Conference player in the arena.

"Aww man, I might have to come back for one more year now," Nowitzki joked.

Celtics guard Jaylen Brown - who led all scorers with 21 points - was bummed that Nowitzki didn't see the ball fall through the mesh, as was head coach Brad Stevens.

"I've rooted for an opposing player to score two times in my life: Paul Pierce and Dirk Nowitzki," said Stevens. "I was sitting over there just like everyone else in the building saying, 'Go in. Go in.' But what a special player, and kudos to him."