Mavericks rising as NBA playoff race heats up in Western Conference

Winners of six of the last ten, the Dallas Mavericks have inched closer to a guaranteed playoff spot in the Western Conference.Watch the Dallas Mavericks play the Utah Jazz on WFAA on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. CT, over-the-air for free. Here's

That premise is what made the matchup to open the week against reigning MVP Nikola Jokic and the defending champion Denver Nuggets game so important for a Mavericks squad that had been searching for a signature win. With an opportunity to have a true measuring contest against a top Western Conference opponent, Dallas capitalized.

The Mavericks are no longer one-sided in their attempts to win. The Luka Show is always playing, but it’s also highly likely that Irving will be in his bag as a dynamic playmaker and shot creator. The desperation three-point heaves without better alternatives are now few and far between, and the Dereck Lively II, Daniel Gafford two-headed monster at center has been fruitful in providing the Dallas backcourt a competent rim runner to dump off to as they challenge double teams.

Finally boasting a healthy rotation has allowed Dallas to cycle through the Dante Exum, Derrick Jones Jr., and P.J. Washington trio of wing defense support. With being able to survive the streaky shooting of Tim Hardaway Jr. thanks to clutch performances from their depth, as well as the efficient shooting and strong rim protection from their bigs, Dallas is starting to put the puzzle pieces together.

Even with the 6-of-27 shooting night in South Texas, Doncic remains averaging a near Triple-Double for the month, with 32.3 points, 10.6 assists, and 9.9 rebounds to date in March.The week ahead couldn’t be more opportune, with Dallas primed to potentially overtake Sacramento for 6th position in the West, avoiding the play-in tournament and into a potential first-round matchup versus the Minnesota Timberwolves.

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