Mavs, Luka nonetheless clinging on basketball miracle for playoff inclusion after loss vs Warmth
Amid their persevering with downslide and the bleeding of their possibilities to make it to the playoffs, the reeling Dallas Mavericks try to maintain their little hearth burning upon taking a painful 129-122 defeat on Sunday in opposition to the Miami Warmth.
“For me, it’s form of irritating, however I’m at all times going to remain optimistic going into each recreation,” mentioned Tim Hardaway Jr. in postgame. “Simply acquired to play onerous. Play onerous with desperation and something can occur, man.
“I nonetheless imagine.”
The Mavs entered the Miami territory having a daring mission to nonetheless save their season, down by half a recreation in opposition to the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder for the ultimate play-in spot of the Western Convention.
However as an alternative of clawing a a lot wanted win, they got here up brief but once more and now down by one recreation in opposition to the man playoff hopeful workforce.
Dallas’ loss in opposition to Miami got here in in a peculiar vogue, contemplating that they shot a extremely environment friendly 61 p.c collectively.
“It’s each time the identical downside,” the 42-point scorer Doncic mentioned about their protection. “The offense is ok.
“But when we hand over 130 factors in 4 quarters, that’s onerous to win.”
5 Warmth gamers scored double-digit marks, as Jimmy Butler led the way in which together with his 35 factors and 12 assists. Additionally they managed to shoot 52.3 p.c from the sphere to carefully match the Mavs’ scoring outburst.
With 4 video games left to their season, it seems that the Mavericks can solely hope for miracles from the basketball gods to have the ability to not less than qualify within the play-in tourney.
Doncic, the workforce’s franchise celebrity, nonetheless has that religion for Dallas regardless of enduring probably the most disastrous season but in his younger profession.
“Clearly there’s hope, yeah,” Doncic mentioned. “I at all times say you’ve acquired to hope to the final second. You’ve acquired to imagine you may make it, so we’ve acquired to imagine.”
