NBA
How many times have the Dallas Mavericks made it to the conference finals?
The Dallas Mavericks have made three appearances in the Conference Finals since 2005, with their most recent participation being in the 2022 NBA Playoffs.
After failing to make the playoffs in the previous season and being accused of sinking the last five games of the regular season to improve their draft position, the Mavericks, with their striking duo of Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic, have made the Conference Finals once again after just two years.
Their last encounter for the Oscar Robertson Trophy was in 2022, against the perennial champions of the previous decade, the Golden State Warriors, led by Curry, Thompson, and Green. Regarding NBA history, they found themselves in the Western Finals 2006, facing the Phoenix Suns led by Steve Nash.
2006 vs. Phoenix Suns
The Mavericks were in close competition with the San Antonio Spurs for the top spot in the Western Conference but ended up with the fourth seed. They achieved a 60–22 record and swept the Memphis Grizzlies in the 2006 playoffs. They had a thrilling series against the San Antonio Spurs, with the Mavericks emerging victorious in Game 7 under Dirk Nowitzki and their deep bench.
The Dallas Mavericks advanced to the conference finals against their former teammate, Steve Nash, and the Phoenix Suns. The Mavs’ strong defense and depth helped them win the series as they defeated the Phoenix Suns in game 6 of the Western Conference finals on June 3, 2006, at the US Airways Center in Phoenix. This victory allowed the Mavericks to advance to their first NBA Finals in franchise history.
2011 vs. OKC (The Championship season)
The Mavericks started strong in the 2010–11 season, winning 24 of their first 29 games. However, injuries to Dirk Nowitzki and Caron Butler caused a temporary setback. Nowitzki rushed back, and the team regained momentum. They finished with a 57–25 record, settling for the third seed.
The Mavericks faced the upstart Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference finals. Dirk Nowitzki set the tone in the series in game one with a 48-point performance, and the Mavericks took Game 1 by a score of 121–112. The Thunder responded with a 106–100 victory in Game 2. However, the Mavericks won the next three games, including a 15-point comeback in Game 4, to take the five-game series. This win marked the Mavericks’ second Western Conference Championship in franchise history, and they went on to face the Miami Heat, the team that defeated them in the 2006 NBA Finals.
2022 vs. Golden State Warriors
Under Kidd, the Mavericks finished the 2021-22 season with a 52-30 record, securing the fourth seed in the Western Conference. This marked their first playoff series win since their championship season in 2011, as they defeated the Utah Jazz 4-2 in the first round of the 2022 NBA playoffs.
The Mavericks won two games without Dončić, who was out due to injury. They then faced the Phoenix Suns, who had won a league-best 64 games in the regular season. Despite being down 3–2, Mavericks star Luka Dončić commented, “Everybody acts tough when they’re up.” The Mavericks went on to win the next two games, advancing to their first Western Conference finals since 2011. In Game 7, the Mavericks beat the Suns by 33 points, holding a 46-point lead at one point. Jalen Brunson emerged as a star alongside Spencer Dinwiddie and Dončić, averaging 23 points in the first two series.
Against the Warriors, troubled with injuries and tiredness, they only managed to win the fourth game in the series, while the Golden State team continued to the NBA Finals, where they won against the Boston Celtics.