While most teams worry about the playoffs this late in the season, the Dallas Mavericks find themselves thinking about the 1972-73 Philadelphia 76ers.
Now they don't have to anymore. Not this season.The Mavericks made sure they won't tie the 76ers for the worst record in NBA history (9-73). They did it with their 10th victory of the season, a 108-107 upset of the Trail Blazers at Portland.
"Tonight, I thought we played to win," Dallas coach Quinn Buckner said. "It's taken some guys, and it will continue to take some guys, a long time to get to that point of playing to win.
"You might say we are at the embryonic stages of learning how to play to win."
Last season, the Mavericks didn't win No. 10 until the next-to-last night of the season. They came out the following night and beat Houston to finish the year 11-71.
In order to beat that victory total, Dallas needs two victories in its six remaining games (Denver, Sacramento, Phoenix, Houston twice, Minnesota).
For Portland, the loss put it into a tie with Golden State for the sixth playoff seed in the Western Conference. Both teams have six games left, and the Warriors have the easier schedule.
"We were supposed to win, and at this point in the season it's very disappointing," Portland's Rod Strickland said. "They didn't fold and it just wasn't happening for us."
Jamal Mashburn's 20-footer, a steal and layup by Fat Lever and a baseline layup by Jimmy Jackson in the final minute gave Dallas the victory.
Jackson led the Mavericks with 24 points, while Mashburn added 20 and Lever 14. Portland's Clyde Drexler led all scorers with 29 points.
Warriors 128, Lakers 117
At Inglewood, Calif., Chris Mullin, Chris Webber and Billy Owens scored 25 points apiece and Golden State kept Los Angeles behind by at least eight throughout the fourth quarter.
Webber added 10 rebounds and nine assists to barely miss a triple-double.
Suns 107, Nuggets 102
At Denver, the Nuggets chose to focus their defense on Phoenix's high-profile players. That left usual benchwarmers like Frank Johnson and Mark West wide open. Johnson was 5-for-6 from the field and West was 6-for-8.
Kevin Johnson paced the Suns with 25 points and 10 assists. Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf led Denver with 25.
Bulls 111, Nets 105
At Chicago, Scottie Pippen had 25 points, nine rebounds, nine assists and six steals as the Bulls moved within a half-game of New York and Atlanta in the battle for the best record in the Eastern Conference.
SuperSonics 116, Clippers 101
At Los Angeles, the Sonics set a franchise record with their 24th road victory despite the fact Dominique Wilkins and Mark Jackson returned to the Clippers' lineup.
Wilkins had 26 points; Jackson was held to four.
Rockets 98, Timberwolves 89
At Houston, Hakeem Olajuwon scored 42 points, three short of his season high, and Robert Horry added 17 points and a career-high 13 rebounds. The victory was Houston's fifth in a row and tied last season's franchise record for victories .
Cavaliers 119, Bucks 91
At Richfield, Ohio, Cleveland became the fifth Eastern Conference team to qualify for the playoffs, joining New York, Atlanta, Chicago and Orlando. Bobby Phills and Terrell Brandon each scored 22 points and the Cavs led by as many as 31 points in the closing minutes.
76ers 134, Pistons 107
At Auburn Hills, Mich., Philadelphia's bench outscored Detroit's by 57 points. Jeff Malone scored 25 points, Orlando Woolridge had 23 and Clarence Weatherspoon 18.
NBA INJURY REPORT
Wednesday, April 13
Atlanta Hawks - C Blair Rasmussen (back) is on the injured list (went on Nov.4) and will likely retire because of the injury.
Boston Celtics - F Alaa Abdelnaby (severely sprined ankle) is on the injured list (went on Mar. 5) and is out indefinately. C Matt Wenstrom (strained lower back) is on the injured list (went on Jan. 21) and is out indefinitely.
Charlotte Hornets - G Rumeal Robinson (strained ligaments in left foot) is on the five-game injured list (went on Mar. 10) and out indefinitely.
Chicago Bulls - C Bill Cartright (strained back) is on the injured list (went on April 8) and can't be activated until April 17. C Will Perdue (broken finger) is off the injured list (actived April 9) and is available to play. G John Paxton (sore left knee) is off the injured list (activated April 8) and available to play.
Cleveland Cavaliers - F Tyrone Hill (bruised right knee) is day-to-day. F Larry Nance (cartilage damage in right knee) is on the injured list (went on March 18) and will likely be out until at least late April C Brad Daugherty (herniated disk in back) is on the injured list (went on March 5) and is expected out until at least Aptil. G John Battle (dislocated elbow) is on the injured list (went on Feb. 28) and will be out late April
Dallas Mavericks - C Greg Dreiling (tendinities right knee) was placed on the injured list (went on April 1) and is out indefinately. F Terry Davis (left elbow) is on the injured list and will miss the entire season. F Randy White (sore right knee) is on the unjured list (went on March 22) and out indefinately.
Denver Nuggets - G Alvin Robertson (back spasms) is on injured list (went on Nov. 29) and will miss the rest of the season.
Detroit Pistons - G Isiah Thomas (flu) is day-to-day.
Golden State Warriors - G Tim Hardaway (major surgery to repair torn ligament in left knee) and G Sarunas Marciulionis (torn ligament in right knee) are on the five-game injured list (went on Nov. 2) and will miss the entire season.
Houston Rockets - G Mario Elie (broken right hand) was placed on the injured list (went on April 1) had surgery Saturday and will remain out until the start of the playoffs.
Indiana Pacers - G Vern Fleming (deep cut in lower lip, broken teeth) will miss 1-2 games. G Pooh Richardson (separated right shoulder) is on the injured list (went on April 5) and out until late April. F/C Scott Haskin (torn ligament in knee) is on the injured list (went on Feb. 24) and will miss the rest of the season.
Los Angeles Clippers - G Mark Jackson (possible ligament damage in right writst) did not play in Mondays game at Sacramento and will be examined later this week to see if he should be placed on the IL. F John Williams (small fracture in right ankle) is on the injured list (went on April 6) and is likely out for the season. C Stanley Roberts (ruptured right achilles tendon) will miss the rest of the season.
Los Angeles Lakers - G Reggie Jordan (sore back) is on the injured list (went on April 6) and out indefinately. G Anthony Peeler (stress fracture in lower leg) ison the injured list and out until late April. C Sam Bowie (sore left knee) is eligible to come off the injured list (went on Jan.5) but will be out until late April.
Miami Heat - C Rony Seikaly (sprianed right ankle) has missed several games and is day to day.
Milwaukee Bucks - No significant injuries.
Minnesota Timberwolves - F/C Stacey King (surgery on right knee) is on the injured list (went on April 7) and is out for the season.
New Jersey Nets - F Chris Morris (multiple fracture in right thumb) is eligible to come off injured list and may return this week. C Dwayne Schintzius (sore back) is on the injured list (went on March 23) and out indefinitely.
New York Knicks - G John Starks (knee) was placed on the injured list Tuesday and will likely be out until late April. G Doc Rivers (major reconstructive surgery to repair torn cartilage and anterior cruciate ligament in left knee) is on the injured list (went on Dec.19) and will miss the remainder of the season. C Tim McCormick (knee surgery) is on the injured list (went on Oct. 1) and will likely miss the entire season.
Orlando Magic - C Greg Kite (torn calf muscle) is eligible to come off the injured list (went Jan.8) but is out indefinitely. F/C Keith Tower (skin lesion) is on the injured list (went on Feb. 15) and out indefinitely.
Philadelphia 76ers - C Shawn Bradley (dislocated kneecap and bone chips in kneecap) is on the injured list (went on Feb. 19) and will miss the rest of the season.
Phoenix Suns - G Danny Ainge (flu) has missed several games and is day-to-day. G Duane Cooper (reconstructive surgery to repair ligament in knee) is on the injured list (went on Jan. 21) and is out for the season. F Richard Dumas (relapse of substance abuse) was suspended indefinitely by the league and is not likely to return this season. G Elliot Perry (sore back) was placed on the five-game injured list Friday (went on Mar. 18) and out indefinitely.
Portland Trail Blazers - F/C Kevin Thompson (tendinitis in achilles heel) is on the injured list (went on Jan. 21) and is out indefinitely. C Chris Dudley (broken left ankle) is eligible to come off the injured list (went on Nov. 10) but out indefinitely.
Sacramento Kings - F Lionel Simmons (bruised right quadricep) did not play in Tuesday's game against Utah and is day-to-day. C Randy Breuer (sprained ankle) is off the injured list (went on Feb. 8) and available to play. G Bobby Hurley (two collasped lungs, broken ribs, major cuts, back and neck injuries) is on the injured list (went on Dec.15) and will miss the remainder of the season.
San Antonio Spurs - G Chris Whitney (sprained left wrist and thumb) is on the injured list (went on Mar. 11) and out indefinitely.
Seattle Supersonics - G/F Dale Ellis (sore right arch) did not play in Monday's game vs. Minnesota and is day-to-day. G Chris Whitney (sprained left wrist and thumb) is on the injured list and out indefinitely.G Lloyd Danials (two dislocated fingers on right/shooting hand) is day-to-day.
Utah Jazz - C Luther Wright (chemical imbalance, attention disorder and overdose of prescriptiion drug) is on the injured list (went on Jan. 26) and may miss the rest of the season. C Mark Eaton (chronic back ailments) is on the injured list (went on Nov. 4) and may sit out the entire season.
Washington Bullets - F Larry Stewart (broken right foot) is on the injured list (went on Dec. 27) and out for the season. C Pervis Ellison (sore knee) is eligible to come off the injured list (went on March 24) and out for the season.