GAME 72: DAL (42-30) @ MIN (23-49) | 121-136 loss

[Hogmelon]

So the Nuggets essentially control their destiny tonight, right?

Win and get #3 seed vs. Blazers....lose and get #4 seed vs. Mavs....right?

Here are the four scenarios that result in a Nuggets vs. Mavs first-round series:

1.
Mavs beat Timberwolves.
Lakers beat Pelicans.
Clippers beat Thunder.
Trail Blazers beat the Nuggets.

2.
Mavs beat Timberwolves.
Pelicans beat the Lakers.
Clippers beat Thunder.
Trail Blazers beat the Nuggets.

3.
Timberwolves beat Mavs.
Lakers beat Pelicans.
Clippers beat Thunder.
Trail Blazers beat the Nuggets.

4.
Timberwolves beat Mavs.
Pelicans beat the Lakers.
Thunder beat Clippers.
Trail Blazers beat the Nuggets.



Here are the four scenarios that result in a Nuggets vs. Lakers first-round series:

1.
Mavs beat Timberwolves.
Lakers beat Pelicans.
Clippers beat Thunder.
Nuggets beat the Trail Blazers.

2.
Timberwolves beat Mavs.
Lakers beat Pelicans.
Clippers beat Thunder.
Nuggets beat the Trail Blazers.

3.
Mavs beat Timberwolves.
Lakers beat Pelicans.
Thunder beat Clippers.
Nuggets beat the Trail Blazers.

4.
Timberwolves beat Mavs.
Lakers beat Pelicans.
Thunder beat Clippers.
Nuggets beat the Trail Blazers.



Here are the eight scenarios that result in a Nuggets vs. Blazers first-round series:

1.
Mavs beat Timberwolves.
Pelicans beat the Lakers.
Clippers beat Thunder.
Nuggets beat the Trail Blazers.

2.
Timberwolves beat Mavs.
Pelicans beat the Lakers.
Clippers beat Thunder.
Trail Blazers beat the Nuggets.

3.
Timberwolves beat Mavs.
Pelicans beat the Lakers.
Clippers beat Thunder.
Nuggets beat the Trail Blazers.

4.
Mavs beat Timberwolves.
Lakers beat Pelicans.
Thunder beat Clippers.
Trail Blazers beat the Nuggets.

5.
Mavs beat Timberwolves.
Pelicans beat the Lakers.
Thunder beat Clippers.
Trail Blazers beat the Nuggets.

6.
Mavs beat Timberwolves.
Pelicans beat the Lakers.
Thunder beat Clippers.
Nuggets beat the Trail Blazers.

7.
Timberwolves beat Mavs.
Lakers beat Pelicans.
Thunder beat Clippers.
Trail Blazers beat the Nuggets.

8.
Timberwolves beat Mavs.
Pelicans beat the Lakers.
Thunder beat Clippers.
Nuggets beat the Trail Blazers.

[Scott41theMavs]

I have this bemused picture in my mind of these eight head coaches trying to stretch these games into overtime, furiously checking the scoreboards of the other games to know what to do. 

[sefant]

Clippers resting everyone more or less. OKC have to do their job else they can drop 2-3 spots in the lottery odds tho.

[Hogmelon]

I have this bemused picture in my mind of these eight head coaches trying to stretch these games into overtime, furiously checking the scoreboards of the other games to know what to do. 

Yeah, someone should make a movie.  Funny stuff ... seriously!!!   

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KM2K7sV-K74

[Scott41theMavs]

Clippers resting everyone more or less. OKC have to do their job else they can drop 2-3 spots in the lottery odds tho.

Both fighting like cats and dogs to lose.... bet the Clippers pull off the loss. So if the Mavs want the Nuggets, Luka and a ton of other guys should rest tonight, and we hope that the Lakers and Blazers do their jobs...

[Hogmelon]

Clippers resting everyone more or less. OKC have to do their job else they can drop 2-3 spots in the lottery odds tho.

Both fighting like cats and dogs to lose.... bet the Clippers pull off the loss. So if the Mavs want the Nuggets, Luka and a ton of other guys should rest tonight, and we hope that the Lakers and Blazers do their jobs...

I have a hard time envisioning the Clippers outtanking the Thunder tonight (especially since the Thunder stand to "lose" more by winning [tonight] than the Clippers do).

Nevertheless, if the following unlikely scenario actually comes to pass, I will be A-OK with it:

Timberwolves beat Mavs.
Pelicans beat the Lakers.
Thunder beat Clippers.
Trail Blazers beat the Nuggets.

[Hogmelon]

Both fighting like cats and dogs to lose.... bet the Clippers pull off the loss. So if the Mavs want the Nuggets, Luka and a ton of other guys should rest tonight, and we hope that the Lakers and Blazers do their jobs...

As I have previously stated, if the Lakers beat the Pelicans (which I think is very likely), then it does not matter what the Mavs do tonight.

If, on the other hand, the Pelicans somehow manage to upset the Lakers tonight, then (assuming the Nuggets lose to the Blazers, which is required to effectuate any  scenario that results in a Dallas vs. Denver match-up) the Mavs would need to match the Clippers result tonight (Mavs win if the Clippers win, or Mavs lose if the Clippers lose) to get the first-round match-up against Denver.

Therefore ...

If you prefer Denver as the Mavs' first-round opponent, then ...

If you think the Clippers are more likely to win tonight vs. OKC, then you should hope for the Mavs to win tonight; but if you think the Clippers are more likely to lose tonight, then you should hope for the Mavs to lose tonight also.

Or ...

You could just get drunk tonight and sing a few verses of "Que Será, Será."

[Hypermav]

https://twitter.com/LakeShowYo/status/13...10432?s=20

[Hogmelon]

Everyone wants to avoid the Mavs.  Must win for Denver.

https://gph.is/g/ZOlXyQY

[Hypermav]

Clippers officially going for the loss here.  

https://twitter.com/FantasyLabsNBA/statu...22818?s=20

https://twitter.com/FantasyLabsNBA/statu...26912?s=20

---

https://twitter.com/FantasyLabsNBA/statu...51968?s=20

[DrMav]

Sitting alone in a Buffalo Wild Wings to watch this since I live in Minnesota and don’t get the game at home. If all this Fox/Bally Sports nonsense isn’t figured out by next year I might end up at a minimum getting a VPN that I can change my location to use league pass whenever I want.

[Hogmelon]

The betting favorites have won (or are currently winning) EVERY GAME so far today.

I don't think this is going to happen:

Timberwolves beat Mavs.
Pelicans beat the Lakers.
Thunder beat Clippers.
Trail Blazers beat the Nuggets.

But I do think this is going to happen:

Mavs beat Timberwolves.
Lakers beat Pelicans.
Clippers beat Thunder.
Trail Blazers beat the Nuggets.

[RedFlag41]

My predictions:

1. Denver loses, Portland wins,
2. Lakers win,
3. Clippers loses,
4. Mavs win.

[bodhisattva]

LOL at Mavs, Clips and Nuggets. Its like they are competing for lottery odds. I was actually stupid enough to believe Portland-Denver is gonna be a good game. F... this s....

Good night gentleman, see you in playoffs.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Blazers putting the smackdown on the Nugs. And T-Wolves doing the same to the Mavs.

[mvossman]

LOL at Mavs, Clips and Nuggets. Its like they are competing for lottery odds. I was actually stupid enough to believe Portland-Denver is gonna be a good game. F... this s....

Good night gentleman, see you in playoffs.

No idea why?  A Nuggets win means they get Lakers.  They don't want any part of that.

[SwisherPrice]

Waste of time...Luka shouldn't have even suited up. Players don't really care about playoff seeding. As soon as they clinched then they were mentally checked out

[Hogmelon]

Halftime:
Mavs 60
Timberwolves 76


Halftime:
Lakers 63
Pelicans 59


Halftime:
Trail Blazers 72
Nuggets 55


Halftime:
Clippers 60
Thunder 62

[BolsDamols]

LAC can sill beat OKC...Looks like Mavs dont care if they face Clips or Nuggets

[HoosierDaddyKid]

LAC can sill beat OKC...Looks like Mavs dont care if they face Clips or Nuggets

Looks that way.  Let's see if the T-Wolves fold like a cheap tent the rest of the game.