Watch out lottery teams, the Dallas Mavericks might find a way to beat you in the playoffs. Okay, so maybe that's impossible, but Dallas showed the difference between a playoff team and a non-playoff team for a third straight time tonight as they defeated their in-state rivals, the Houston Rockets, 98-91 in OT. The Mavs took all four games in the regular season series between the two squads, and improved their record to 22-1 against teams that missed the cut for the Western Conference playoffs.
Looking to round into a playoff form that can defeat actual playoff teams, the Mavs showed their newly found defensive intensity, eventually, for a second straight night in a grinding game with numerous lead changes in the first half. With one regular season game to go, the Mavericks are winning at the right time, and fans of the team can only hope that it translates into a deep playoff run.
The Rockets led most of the way, but Dallas came back at the end of the fourth quarter, and played well enough to win in regulation, but the Mavericks pulled out the win in OT in part due to a couple of big shots by Jason Terry.
Positives
- Marion had another solid game, finishing with 21 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists and a steal. He clearly wants regular pt in the playoffs.
- Brewer gave the team a lot of energy during the third quarter, when the rest of the team looked sluggish.
- Terry ended up making some big shots in OT. If he's a reliable second or third scorer, then that goes a long way in making sure the Mavs advance past the first round.
- With the win, Dallas keeps alive the possibility of being the number 2 seed in the WC playoffs.
Negatives
- Terry had a rough night in ways other than scoring. He accumulated 6 turnovers, and his bricked free throw at the end of regulation would have made him a scapegoat if the Mavs had lost. His body language confused Mark Followill, and it told viewers that he might not have understood the situation, and that he possibly missed on purpose.
- Sigh, Beaubois goes here for the second time in two nights. Foul trouble is going to keep him on the bench until he plays smarter.
- There's only one more regular season game for the Mavericks. How sad.