Texas basketball history at stake as Mavs battle for playoff spot / News - Basketnews.com

Dallas Mavericks are in danger of missing the NBA playoffs this season, which would make it the first time in NBA postseason history that there is no Texas team representation.

Credit: USA Today Sports - Scanpix Credit USA Today Sports - Scanpix

If Dallas Mavericks miss the NBA playoffs this season, it will be the first time in history that an NBA postseason has no Texas representation, via Marc Stein.

Dallas Mavericks / Schedule

Charlotte Hornets Dallas Mavericks110-104 Indiana Pacers Dallas Mavericks104-127 Philadelphia 76ers Dallas Mavericks116-108 Miami Heat Dallas Mavericks129-122 Atlanta Hawks Dallas MavericksSun22:00 Dallas Mavericks Sacramento KingsThu00:30 Dallas Mavericks Chicago BullsSat00:30

There have never been NBA playoffs without Texas team representation since the ABA merged with the NBA and brought the Houston Rockets and San Antonio Spurs in 1976. The Mavs were founded in 1980.

After the 129-122 road loss to the Miami Heat on Saturday night, the Mavericks (37-41) fell a full game back of No. 10 Oklahoma City (38-40) in the race for the last Western Conference play-in spot, and worse, the Thunder own the head-to-head tiebreaker.

Dallas is now two games back of No. 9 Minnesota (39-39) and just a half-game ahead of No. 12 Utah (36-41).

Dallas plays its final road game of the regular season at Atlanta on Sunday, then finishes with home games against Sacramento, Chicago, and San Antonio.

Meanwhile, Houston and San Antonio were eliminated from the postseason contention a long time ago. The Rockets are last in the Western Conference with a 19-59 record, while the Spurs have one defeat less than their standings neighbors: 19-58.

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