What to know about the Dallas Mavs, Stars playoff games
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We hope we're ready for this rematch. Photo: Tim Heitman/Getty Images
The Dallas Mavericks and the Dallas Stars are both headed into the playoffs starting Sunday.
Why it matters: North Texans now have two fandoms to join to cheer for a playoff run just months after the Texas Rangers won the World Series.
- It's a good time for everyone but Cowboys fans.
The latest: The Mavs play the LA Clippers on Sunday in Los Angeles in the first game of a best-of-seven series.
- The Stars will play the reigning Stanley Cup champions, the Vegas Golden Knights, in a best-of-seven series. Vegas dropped to the second wild card spot after their 4-1 loss last night.
The Mavs: The Mavs lost to the Clippers in two of their three regular season matchups, but they've soared in the Western Conference standings to clinch the fifth seed heading into the playoffs.
- The Clippers have depth and experience with players like Kawhi Leonard, Paul George and James Harden, but the team has struggled with consistency.
- Meanwhile, Luka Dončić and Kyrie Irving have emerged as a power duo and rallied the Mavs to win 13 of their last 17 games.
What we're watching: If the team stays healthy, the Mavs' knack for clutch plays in tense moments will help them clip the Clippers.
The Stars: Dallas has the home-ice advantage after clinching the top seed in the Western Conference this week.
- The Stars last clinched the Western Conference in 2016, when they were knocked out in the second round of the playoffs.
- Center Wyatt Johnston, the team's top scorer, and left wing, Jason Robertson, are among the team's most exciting young players.
- Plus, goalie Jake Oettinger has a nearly 91% save percentage. 🦦
Threat level: The matchup isn't ideal. The Stars lost to the Golden Knights in the Western Conference final last year.
- And Vegas has won all three of this season's meetings.
- Game 1 is Monday.
The bottom line: Be sure to yell "Stars" during the national anthem even if you're at a Mavs game.