WHO: The Dallas Mavericks host the Oklahoma City Thunder

WHAT: Let's just not be to pessimistic, ok?

WHERE: American Airlines Center, Dallas, TX

WHEN: 6:30pm CT

HOW: TXA21 | TNT

THE STORY: A couple of things could happen tonight. Dallas could be the first champions to be swept in the first round since... wait for it... the Miami Heat. Or they could be the first team in history to come back from an 0-3 deficit and win it all. OR they could win tonight, get our hopes up, and then head back to OKC and get eliminated there. Or in any of the two games thereafter. I'm not gonna put my money on anything so I can just sit back and enjoy the high-caliber basketball that's been played between these two teams. Say hi to the folks over at Welcome to Loud City if you feel so inclined.

LET'S. GO. MAVS.

WHO: The Dallas Mavericks host the Oklahoma City Thunder

WHAT: we must protect this house?!

WHERE: American Airlines Center, Dallas, TX

WHEN: 8:30pm CT

HOW: TNT | TXA21

THE STORY: Someone once said 'game 3 is game 7". If that doesn't get your heart racing... that doesn't surprise me. It's kinda weird, but Jason Terry said it so YEAH! And someone else said it's not a series until someone loses at home. Also kinda meh. We're not so good at these motivating cliches. Look. The games have been damn close, just like we knew they would be. We're watching incredibly entertaining basketball that far outdoes any of the other lame series going on right now. And we won the championship last year. So let's keep things in perspective. Hop, skip and maybe even jump over to Welcome to Loud City.

And hey. Let's go, Mavs!

WHO: The Oklahoma City Thunder host the Dallas Mavericks

WHAT: It took another last-second shot for the Thunder...

WHERE: Chesapeake Energy Arena, Oklahoma City, OK

WHEN: 8:30pm CT

HOW: TXA21 | TNT

THE STORY: There's no question that when these two teams play each other, absolute magic happens. For whatever reason, they come together to create beautifully entertaining basketball. Sometimes Dallas comes out on top, sometimes Oklahoma City does. On Saturday, the game was insanely close and it took another phenomenal, last-second shot from Kevin Durant to give the Thunder their game 1 victory. Does this mean we should all curl up in the fetal position and give up? Despite the appeal of that option, if anything, I think it means we shouldn't count the Mavericks out just yet. Delonte West was feeling quite sick. Dirk Nowitzki didn't have a particularly great game. Jason Terry disappeared in the fourth. These are all things that should change this time around and could improve their chances tonight. Say hi to the folks at Welcome to Loud City.

C'mon, Mavs.

WHO: The Oklahoma City Thunder host the Dallas Mavericks

WHAT: The beginning of the playoffs. How are we already here again?

WHERE: Chesapeake Energy Arena, Oklahoma City, OK

WHEN: 8:30pm CT

HOW: ESPN | TXA21

THE STORY: WALP. We've made it back again. This time instead of facing OKC in the WCF, we get them round 1, and they have home court advantage. There's been a TON of coverage on our beloved site, so make sure you peruse all the articles we've posted in the past few days. It's hard not to be a little pessimistic about this one, but if we've learned anything about being fans of the Dallas Mavericks, it's that nothing ever goes the way we think it will. Take a trip over to Welcome to Loud City to learn more about the Thunder.

LEGGGGGGOOOOOOOOOO!!

WHO: The Atlanta Hawks host the Dallas Mavericks

WHAT: Last regular season game!

WHERE: Philips Arena, Atlanta. GA

WHEN: 7:00pm CT

HOW: FSSW | League Pass

THE STORY: Welp. If we win and Denver wins, we get the tie-breaker and the 6-seed. If we lose and Denver wins, we get the 7-seed. The Hawks are playing for home court advantage, and they'll do so without Al Horford. Jason Kidd is resting tonight to be ready for the playoffs, which begin either Saturday in Oklahoma or Sunday in Los Angeles. Pop on over to Peachtree Hoops for Atlanta's coverage.

And for the last regular time this season, LET'S GO MABS!

WHO: The Chicago Bulls host the Dallas Mavericks

WHAT: Likely a playoff-like game since the Bulls are, you know, good.

WHERE: United Center, Chicago, IL

WHEN: 7:00pm CT

HOW: FSSW | ESPN

THE STORY: Dallas registered a pair of home wins, both securing their playoff berth and giving them a teensy bit of momentum. They've been playing great team basketball as of late, which is a good way to end the regular season. The Bulls are struggling a bit without Derrick Rose, who is back in the starting lineup tonight. Jason Kidd and Jason Terry will both be taking a prescribed day off, but everyone else seems set to take on the Eastern Conference leaders. For more information on the opposition, visit Blog a Bull.

MABBBBBBS!

WHO: The Dallas Mavericks host the Golden State Warriors

WHAT: Well it's not urgent anymore, so that's nice.

WHERE: American Airlines Center, Dallas, TX

WHEN: 7:30pm CT

HOW: FSSW | League Pass

THE STORY: /wipes brow. Thanks to our win over the Rockets, followed by the Rockets' loss to the Hornets, the Dallas Mavericks will make their 12th-straight playoff appearance. All we have left is to sit and wait to find out where we're seeded. So while these next three games aren't must-win, it never hurts to have some momentum heading into the post-season. Golden State is depleted at the moment, missing David Lee and Stephen Curry, and maybe more. They've also lost six in a row. Hopefully tonight will be a nice, easy game for both teams. It's been a long season. Stop by Golden State Of Mind for more info on the Warriors.

Take it easy, Mavs. You're in.

WHO: The Dallas Mavericks host the Houston Rockets

WHAT: We just gotta win 2 more games and we're in, right?

WHERE: American Airlines Center, Dallas, TX

WHEN: 7:30pm CT

HOW: KTXA21 | League Pass

THE STORY: These two teams are struuuuuggling. Dallas has lost two big battles in a row, Houston four. The positive here is that Dallas has beaten the Rockets both times they've played this season, adding cushion to their 1 1/2-game lead over Houston in the playoff seeding. Fatigue will definitely play into the game tonight, seeing as how the Mavs played back-to-back overtime games for just the fourth time in franchise history this weekend. They also have a tough stretch of games coming up, so getting a win in tonight is pretty important. Fortunately it looks like Rodrigue Beaubois will be back in the lineup tonight. Drop in on The Dream Shake for Rockets coverage.

Try to keep hope alive, y'all.

WHO: The Utah Jazz (31-30) host the Dallas Mavericks (34-27)

WHAT: Dallas could still theoretically miss the playoffs, so.

WHERE: EnergySolutions Arena, Salt Lake City, Utah

WHEN: 8 p.m. CT

HOW: Fox Sports Southwest, NBA League Pass, 103.3 FM ESPN radio. (HAH, who listens to radio anymore, RIGHT GUYS?!)

THE STORY: The Mavericks probably won't miss the playoffs. But since they still haven't clinched a spot yet, that's the only story national outlets are really going to care about. The Jazz are two games back in the loss column and one game back in the win column of the eighth-place Houston Rockets. So they probably care about this game. Dirk Nowitkzi has been real good against Utah in two games this year, shooting 57 percent and averaging a little over 26 points per game. Jazz fans also hate him and boo him whenever he touches the ball. Which is funny because Dirk is known as one of the most beloved and respected players league-wide. Oh and this is the second night of a back-to-back for Dallas, so they'll probably lose. Except they'll probably win.

That's it. Check out SLC Dunk for good Jazz things. Go Mamricks.