The Dallas Mavericks are on to the Western Conference Finals. On Saturday night, in front of a rowdy home crowd, the Mavs defeated the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder in six games. Dallas advanced to its second Western Conference Finals appearance in the last three seasons.
If the Mavs get through either Denver or Minnesota, they will reach the NBA Finals for the third time this century and the first time since 2011. Dallas won the NBA Championship over the Miami Heat thirteen years ago, which followed its first appearance in the Finals, also against Miami. The Heat won the first round back in 2006.
Mavs legend Dirk Nowitzki knows all about those series. Nowitzki was involved in both and was a crucial figure in each edition. Dirk’s climb to the top in 2011, besting the Heat team comprised of Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, and Chris Bosh, is one of the most memorable NBA PLayoff runs in league history. He’s a beloved figure in Dallas and always will be.
Nowitzki reacted to the Mavs’ series-clinching victory on Saturday night with a post on X, the website formerly known as Twitter. “Western conference finals!!!!” Nowitzki posted.
Nowitzki, the Mavs, and the rest of the NBA world will watch on Sunday afternoon to see who the Mavs will play in the Western Conference Finals. Dallas will either square off with reigning champion Denver or upstart Minnesota, and a berth in the NBA Finals is at stake.
About Chris Novak
Chris Novak has been talking and writing about sports ever since he can remember. Previously, Novak wrote for and managed sites in the SB Nation network for nearly a decade from 2013-2022