Fansided

NBA Playoff Chase: Dallas Mavericks fall to eighth

By Andrew Melnick

Apr 10, 2014; Dallas, TX, USA; San Antonio Spurs guard Manu Ginobili (20) drives to the basket past Dallas Mavericks guard Vince Carter (25) during the second half at the American Airlines Center. The Spurs defeated the Mavericks 109-100. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 10, 2014; Dallas, TX, USA; San Antonio Spurs guard Manu Ginobili (20) drives to the basket past Dallas Mavericks guard Vince Carter (25) during the second half at the American Airlines Center. The Spurs defeated the Mavericks 109-100. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 10, 2014; Dallas, TX, USA; San Antonio Spurs guard Manu Ginobili (20) drives to the basket past Dallas Mavericks guard Vince Carter (25) during the second half at the American Airlines Center. The Spurs defeated the Mavericks 109-100. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 10, 2014; Dallas, TX, USA; San Antonio Spurs guard Manu Ginobili (20) drives to the basket past Dallas Mavericks guard Vince Carter (25) during the second half at the American Airlines Center. The Spurs defeated the Mavericks 109-100. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /

With only four games (and three for some teams) to go in the NBA season, there is still a lot to be decided.

After all but six of the NBA’s teams were in action on Wednesday, only four teams took the hardwood on Thursday night as part as TNT’s weekly double header.

In the first game, the San Antonio Spurs took down the Dallas Mavericks behind Patty Mills, who was filling in for Tony Parker, and his 26 points.

The victory all but assured the Spurs of home court advantage. They have a 3.5 game lead on the Oklahoma City Thunder and one more win would lock up home court.

For the Mavericks, every game is extremely important. The loss put them in a tie with the Phoenix Suns (with the Suns holding the advantage in winning percentage because they have played two less games) for the seventh seed. They have just a one game lead on the Memphis Grizzlies and are actually tied with the Grizzlies in the loss column.

The current sixth seed, the Golden State Warriors, suffered a 100-99 home loss to the Denver Nuggets. That puts them just one game ahead of the Suns and Mavericks for the sixth seed in the west and puts them 2.5 games behind the Portland Trail Blazers for the fifth seed.

If the playoffs started to day, here are the matchups we would have:

Atlanta Hawks (8) vs. Indiana Pacers (1)
Brooklyn Nets (5) vs. Chicago Bulls (4)
Charlotte Bobcats (6) vs. Toronto Raptors (3)
Washington Wizards (7) vs. Miami Heat (2)

Dallas Mavericks (8) vs. San Antonio Spurs (1)
Portland Trail Blazers (5) vs. Houston Rockets (4)
Golden State Warriors (6) vs. Los Angeles Clippers (3)
Phoenix Suns (7) vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (2)

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