10 Best NBA Playoff wins in Dallas Mavericks history

5. Clinching Western Conference against Thunder in 2011

After being upset by the San Antonio Spurs in the 2010 first round as a 55-win team, some thought the Mavs might not be able to get over the hump. But, the 2010-11 season would be the year the Mavs would do it.

The Mavs reached the Western Conference Finals for the first time since 2006, and would be matched up with a young Oklahoma City Thunder team led by Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. It was a team of young hungry superstars ready to make their mark against a team looking to prove doubters wrong of not being able to win when it mattered. Something had to give.

After the Mavs won Game 1, the Thunder responded with winning Game 2 to show they're not a fluke. The Mavs would respond with winning both Game 3 and Game 4 on the road in OKC to take a 3-1 series lead back to Big D.

With a chance to reach his second NBA Finals, Dirk Nowitzki wasn't going to let this chance go to waste. Trailing 94-92, Nowitzki hit a 3-pointer with 1:24 remaining in the fourth quarter to put the Mavs up one. Shawn Marion would respond with completing an and-one after a Thunder miss. Nowitzki would ice the game with two free throws to give the Mavs the 100-96 win, and clinch the West.

The Game 5 win against the Thunder capped off an unexpected run to the Finals that not many saw coming.