By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Amid their continuing downslide and the bleeding of their chances to make it to the playoffs, the reeling Dallas Mavericks are trying to keep their little fire burning upon taking a painful 129-122 defeat on Sunday against the Miami Heat.
“For me, it’s kind of frustrating, but I’m always going to stay positive going into each and every game,” said Tim Hardaway Jr. in the postgame. “Just got to play hard. Play hard with desperation and anything can happen, man.
“I still believe.”
The Mavs entered the Miami territory having a bold mission to still save their season, down by half a game against the Oklahoma City Thunder for the final play-in spot of the Western Conference.
But instead of clawing a much-needed win, they came up short yet again and are now down by one game against the fellow playoff-hopeful team.
Dallas’ loss against Miami came peculiarly, considering that they shot a highly efficient 61 percent collectively.
“It’s every time the same problem,” the 42-point scorer Doncic said about their defense. “The offense is fine.
“But if we give up 130 points in four quarters, that’s hard to win.”
Five Heat players scored double-digit marks, as Jimmy Butler led the way with 35 points and 12 assists. They also managed to shoot 52.3 percent from the field to closely match the Mavs’ scoring outburst.
With four games left to their season, it appears that the Mavericks can only hope for miracles from the basketball gods to be able to at least qualify in the play-in tourney.
Doncic, the team’s franchise superstar, still has that faith in Dallas despite enduring the most disastrous season yet in his young career.
“Obviously there’s hope, yeah,” Doncic said. “I always say you’ve got to hope to the last moment. You’ve got to believe you can make it, so we’ve got to believe.”