The Dallas Mavericks currently sit in the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference with a 10-7 record. That places them with a half game lead over the Portland Trail Blazers and the suddenly red hot Houston Rockets. After defeating the Hornets on Saturday, the Mavericks will open a three-game home stand against Phoenix, Minnesota and Utah. Dirk Nowitzki is expected to miss all of those games with a sore knee.
A quick look at the Southwest Division shows the Mavericks tied for second with the San Antonio Spurs and only percentage points behind Memphis for the division lead. Given the Mavericks rough start to the season head coach Rick Carlisle has to be pleased but keeping that pace up if Nowitzki's injury lingers could become a challenge.
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