Mavericks Play-In Hopes Slipping Away After Painful Defeat to Miami Heat

• The Dallas Mavericks suffered their 6th defeat in seven games after losing 129-122 to the Miami Heat
• They are now 11th in the Western Conference with a 37-41 record with four games remaining in the regular season
• Their play-in hopes are slipping away and probably out of their hands

The Dallas Mavericks suffered another painful defeat to the Miami Heat, dealing a massive blow to their play-in hopes.

The Heat won 129-122 despite a 42-point display from Luka Doncic. They are now 11th in the Western Conference with a 37-41 record.

Jason Kidd's team began the game well and were up 20-12 at the 7:36 mark of the first quarter. The Heat proceeded to outscore them by a 20-point margin fro the remainder of the first half.

The first half was disappointing for the Mavs. They gave up 76 points to a team that is dead last in point per game (108.7), per SI.

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They have four games left and considering how things have gone in the West this season, anything can happen but the Mavs don't look like stopping any team from scoring. They end their five-game road trip in Atalanta on Sunday.

Tim Hardaway Jr added 31 points for Dallas while Kyrie Irving scored 23.

Jimmy Butler scored 35 and added 12 assists for the Heat, per NBC Sports.

Fans reac tions to Dallas defeat

Since Irving joined the Mavericks in early February, the team has gone 8-15. They have lost six of their past seven games. Fans were disappointed by the Mavericks.

@JoeyVam_:

"That’s kind of what happens when you trade your whole defense away."

@hopefulmetsfan:

"The Mavs defense might be the worst in history of basketball. They can’t rebound either. Luka trade request is LOADING."

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@DreamTrader07:

"Jason Kidd is not a good coach. Nico is not a good recruiter and mark cuban is not a good gm."

@ama03450:

"The Kyrie trade was one of the worst trade in the decade. Traded their whole defense for nothing."

@CondoM131228:

"If Jason Kidd is still employed by tomorrow morning you have failed as an organization."

Irving highest scoring games

Sports Brief also reported on Irving's highest-scoring games as he turned 31.

He has produced some historic moments, including in the 2016 NBA Finals. He is regarded as one of the best guards of all time due to some of his unstoppable moves.

Irving recently scored a career-high 60 points for the Nets against the Magic.