Wild West: Mavs-Thunder series nearly set?
We take a look at the games that impact the West playoff picture each morning for the rest of the regular season.
Mavs' spot in the standings: The Mavericks are closing in on a first-round series with the No. 2-seed Oklahoma City Thunder in what would be a rematch of last year's Western Conference finals. A Dallas loss at Atlanta on Thursday or a Denver win at Minnesota (or if both lose), then the series is set. If the Mavs win and the Nuggets lose, Dallas will finish with the sixth seed and take on the Lakers.
WEDNESDAY'S MEANINGFUL GAMES
Nuggets 106, Thunder 101: Denver takes the upper hand for the No. 6 seed and a first-round date with the Lakers, while the Thunder are thrilled that James Harden, the leading Sixth Man of the Year candidate, was medically cleared Wednesday for the start of the playoffs after sustaining a concussion Sunday.
Knicks 99, Clippers 93: Chris Paul sat out with a mild groin strain and now the Clippers need the Grizzlies to lose at home today to the Magic to secure home-court advantage in their first-round series with Memphis.
TODAY’S MEANINGFUL MATCHUPS
Mavs at Hawks
Nuggets at Timberwolves
Magic at Grizzlies
If the playoffs started today: Mavs vs. Thunder
ABOUT THIS BLOG
Tim MacMahon
Tim MacMahon joined ESPNDallas.com in September 2009. Tim covers the Cowboys and Mavericks. He has covered the local sports scene from high schools to colleges to pros during his six-year tenure at The Dallas Morning News. MacMahon is a graduate of UNT.
Marc Stein
Marc Stein began writing for ESPN.com in 2000 and signed on full-time in 2002 as Senior NBA Writer. He also makes regular appearances on "SportsCenter," "NBA Shootaround," "NBA Fastbreak," "NBA Coast To Coast," ESPNEWS, ESPN "First Take" and ESPN Radio.
103.3 FM ESPN PODCASTS
Play Podcast ESPN NBA analyst Jalen Rose joins Fitzsimmons & Durrett to talk about the NBA playoffs.
Play Podcast Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle gives his take on the contrasting styles of the Pacers and Knicks, Carmelo Anthony, Bulls-Heat, Tom Thibodeau, the state of the West and more.
Play Podcast Chuck Cooperstein joins Fitzsimmons & Durrett to talk about who he would rather have if forced to choose between Dwight Howard and Chris Paul.
Play Podcast Tim MacMahon joins Fitzsimmons & Durrett to discuss the possibility of Chris Paul joining the Mavericks and break down what kind of pitch Mark Cuban would have to make to the NBA's best point guard.
Play Podcast ESPN.com senior NBA writer Marc Stein joins Fitzsimmons & Durrett to touch on the storylines in the NBA playoffs and offer a Mavs perspective.
Play Podcast Rick Carlisle joins Chuck Cooperstein and Tim MacMahon to discuss the Mavericks' disappointing season and what needs to happen for them to get back to the playoffs.
Play Podcast Donnie Nelson joins Chuck Cooperstein and Tim MacMahon to discuss the Mavericks' season and the importance of this summer.
Play Podcast Rick Carlisle joins Galloway & Company to discuss the Mavericks playing after being eliminated from playoff contention, whom he wants to keep for next season and much more.
TEAM LEADERS
| POINTS | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Dirk Nowitzki
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| OTHER LEADERS | ||||||||||||
| Rebounds | S. Marion | 7.8 | ||||||||||
| Assists | D. Collison | 5.1 | ||||||||||
| Steals | D. Collison | 1.2 | ||||||||||
| Blocks | E. Brand | 1.3 | ||||||||||
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