Mavs Blow 4th-Quarter Lead For First Time All Season in Damaging Loss to Pacers

Rajon Rondo made layup, great passes and even free throws. Chandler Parsons attacked the rim and scored 27 points. The Mavs, overall, were spirited and focused and …

Not good enough to hold a fourth-quarter lead against the lowly Indiana Pacers.

With closer Monta Ellis out of uniform for the first time in 237 games, the Mavs had no solution to how to finish what they started Sunday night. The result was a first this season: Losing a game in which they had a lead after three quarters. The Mavs are now 33-1 in that scenario.

And because of it, I think they’re locked into 7th spot in the NBA’s Western Conference standings, which means a first-round matchup with the Rockets or Grizzlies.

With only eight games remaining, they aren’t catching the Spurs for 6th and they still have a three-game cushion on the Kevin Durant-less Thunder for 7th. A loss to the Pacers is humbling and getting swept by Indiana is embarrassing. But last night cleared the playoff path for Dallas.

Do just enough to keep the 7th spot. And, by all means, have Ellis healthy for Game 1 of the postseason.

A native Texan who was born in Duncanville and graduated from UT-Arlington, Richie Whitt has been a mainstay in the Metroplex media since 1986. He’s held prominent roles on all media platforms including newspaper (Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Dallas Observer), radio (105.3 The Fan) and TV (co-host on TXA 21 and numerous guest appearances, including NBC 5). He currently lives in McKinney with his wife, Sybil, and two very spoiled dogs.

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