10 Best NBA Playoff wins in Dallas Mavericks history

The Dallas Mavericks played their first NBA season in 1980-81. Even though the franchise has only one NBA Championship to show for, the franchise has still had plenty of playoff success.

Throughout their 43-year existence, the Mavericks have had incredible, amazing, shocking, and memorable playoff wins. But, what are the best of the best?

This is a list to separate the best from the absolute best. Some of these Maverick wins will never be forgotten.

10 Best NBA Playoff wins in Dallas Mavericks history

Teams will never forget what their first was of something. From a first playoff win, MVP, or scoring champion. The list will start with one of the Mavericks' firsts in franchise history.

It's hard to narrow down this list to just 10 games, but all 10 of these games will spark great memories in Mavs fans' heads.

10. Winning first NBA Finals game in 2006

Entering the 2005-06 NBA season, the Mavs have yet to play in an NBA Finals. The Mavs won 60 game in the regular season, and entered the 2006 NBA Playoffs as the Western Conference's fourth seed.

The Mavs defeated the Memphis Grizzlies, San Antonio Spurs, and Phoenix Suns to reach the NBA Finals. Mavs fans waited over a quarter century to see their team in the NBA Finals. The Mavs had home-court advantage against the Miami Heat.

With making the Finals for the first time, some thought the Mavs players would have nerves entering Game 1 of the series. After a slow first quarter, the Mavs picked their game up and outscored the Heat by 10 in the second quarter to take a two-point lead at halftime.

After a stalemate third quarter, the Mavs won the fourth quarter, and the game by a final score of 90-80. Behind a 13-of-18 field goal performance, Jason Terry led the Mavs in scoring with 32 points.

Any NBA franchise will never forget their first win in a Finals. Even though the Mavs didn't win the 2006 NBA Finals, the Mavs will still remember their first Finals win.

9. Revenge against the Suns in 2006 Western Conference Finals

Prior to the 2005-06 season, the Mavericks made two Western Conference Final appearances in 1988 and 2003. After 2003's loss, some wondered when the Mavs would be back.

Things didn't appear to be high after Steve Nash left the Mavs in 2004 to sign with the Phoenix Suns. Nash would get payback on the Mavs in 2005 after the Suns defeated the Mavs in the second round of the 2005 NBA Playoffs in six games.

One year later, the Mavs had a chance at payback. The two teams would meet again in the playoffs, but this time in the 2006 Western Conference Finals.

The teams met in the Desert with the series tied at two games a piece. The Mavs earned a 16-point win in Game 5, and had the Suns right where they wanted them with a chance to clinch the West at home. Mavs fans packed American Airlines Center with a chance to see their Mavs reach the NBA Finals for the first time in history,

Despite trailing the Suns at halftime by 12, the Mavs weren't ready to throw in the towel. The Mavs cut the deficit to four at the end of the third quarter, and then took over the fourth. The Mavs outscored the Suns by 13 to secure a 102-93 win to clinch the West. Jerry Stackhouse had an incredible 19 points off the bench to help the Mavs secure the win.

8. Vinsanity at the buzzer

Throughout his NBA career, Vince Carter made people rise to their feet with his incredible abilities. Carter gave Mavericks fans a moment they'll never forget in 2014.

After missing the playoffs in 2013, the Mavs made it back in 2014 as an eighth seed. In the first round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs, the Mavs were matched up with their rival on I-35 South, the San Antonio Spurs. After splitting the first two games in the Alamo City, the series shifted north to Big D.

With the Mavs trailing the Spurs 108-106 in Game 3, the Mavs found themselves in a position to win the game and take the lead in the series. Enter Carter to come through with one of the clutch shots in playoff history.

Jose Calderon would inbound the ball to Carter, and Carter would hit the game-winning 3-pointer at the buzzer over Manu Ginobili to win the game 109-108. The crowd at American Airlines Center completely erupted with cheers, and couldn't believe that Carter hit a difficult shot.

Even though the Mavs weren't able to complete the upset of the first round series, Carter's shot will never be forgotten by Mavs fans and players.

Carter has a lot of highlights on his reel throughout his 22-year career, and his buzzer beater against the Spurs in Game 3 will be one of the first that comes to mind

7. Luka Doncic's buzzer beater in the bubble

2020 was hard time for everybody with the COVID-19 Pandemic. The NBA suspended the season on March 11, 2020, and would finally resume play on July 30. When the Mavs concluded the regular season, they would finish as the Western Conference's seventh seed, and would match up with the Los Angeles Clippers in the first round.

After splitting the first two games, Luka Doncic and Montrezl Harrell got chippy and personal in Game 3. The Mavs lost Game 3, and found themselves trailing 2-1 in the series.

Prior to Game 4, Harrell apologized to Doncic for his remarks. What's that old saying? "Mess around and find out." Doncic was extra motivated for Game 4, and capped off the game with one of his signature moments in his NBA career.

With 3.7 seconds remaining, the Mavs trailed 133-132, and Doncic would shoot for the win. Doncic would hit a game-winning shot at the buzzer on a step back 3-pointer against Reggie Jackson. Even with a hurt ankle and no Kristaps Porzingis, Doncic would score 43 points.

It may have been Doncic's second season in the NBA in 2020, but his buzzer-beater in Game 4 solidified him as a player who would be a top player in the league for many years to come. Despite losing the next two games against the Clippers to lose the series, Mavs fans will never forget how clutch Doncic's buzzer-beater was in Game 4.

6. Clinching Western Conference against Timberwolves in 2024

The Mavericks entered the 2024 NBA Playoffs as the Western Conference's fifth seed, but it didn't bother the team one bit. After knocking off the Los Angeles Clippers and Oklahoma City Thunder, the Mavs were matched up against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Western Conference Finals.

Even without having home-court advantage in the series, the Mavs would win the first three games of the series. Game 2's win was highlighted by Luka Doncic's go-ahead three-pointer against Rudy Gobert. The Mavs failed to sweep the Timberwolves in Game 4 in Dallas, so the Timberwolves had a new sense of confidence heading to Minneapolis for Game 5.

Doncic and the Mavs had other ideas to have any plans of a Game 6. The Mavs defeated the Timberwolves 124-103 to clinch the Western Conference for the first time since 2011. One signature moment came from the win.

Doncic had his iconic trash talk of "who crying (expletive)" with Snoop Dogg sitting courtside. The Game 5 win was special as Doncic and Kyrie Irving led the Mavs to the Finals in their first full season together after some thought they couldn't work together.

The Mavs would lose the 2024 NBA Finals to the Boston Celtics, but Game 5's win in Minnesota will always be one of the best playoff wins in 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.

4. Sweeping the Lakers in 2011 second round

Yes, beating a team in the second round was better than winning the West. Why is that? Because this wasn't seen by many, and was completely unexpected.

The Mavs had a difficult first-round matchup against the Portland Trail Blazers, but were able to prevail in six games. Beating the Trail Blazers led to a matchup with the Los Angeles Lakers, who were the defending back-to-back NBA champions. And with the Western Conference's top seed San Antonio Spurs being upset in round one, many expected the Lakers to come out of the West again. But, the Mavs had other ideas.

The Mavs started the series on the road, and earned themselves a two-point win in Game 1 after Kobe Bryant missed a go-ahead 3-pointer. The Mavs showed they were legit in Game 1, and earned another road win in Game 2 by 12 points going home to Dallas.

The Mavs won Game 3 at home, and had a chance to do the unexpected and sweep the Lakers in Game 4. When some thought the Lakers weren't going down without a fight, they would be proven wrong.

The Mavs hit 20 3-pointers, and won 122-86. Jason Terry connected on 9-of-10 from three. J.J. Barea came off the bench with 22 points, and Peja Stojakovic scored 21 points off the bench, and connected on all six of his 3-pointers.

Sweeping the Lakers was so unexpected, and it made the Game 4 win that much sweeter. 2011 marked the first and only time that Bryant and Nowitzki would meet in the playoffs. The sweep also marked the end for then Lakers head coach Phil Jackson as he would be done with being a head coach. The Mavs ended a legendary coaching tenure with a sweep in round two.

3. Upsetting top seed Suns in 2022 in Game 7

After being knocked out of the first round in 2020 and 2021, the Mavs were able to get past round one in 2022 against the Utah Jazz for the first time since 2011. The Mavs opponent in the second round was the defending Western Conference champion Phoenix Suns. The Suns had the best record in the NBA with a 64-18 record.

As a fourth seed, the Mavs would have their work cut out for them as they dropped the first two games of the series in Phoenix. But, the Mavs bounced back by winning both games at home to even the series at two. Both teams traded home wins in Game 5 and Game 6 to set up a Game 7.

Despite being underdogs, the Mavs shocked the Suns and won Game 7 by a final of 123-90. The Mavs had an impressive 57-27 lead at halftime. The largest lead the Mavs had in the game was 46 points. Luka Doncic led the Mavs in scoring with 35 points and had an iconic meme when he stared at Devin Booker with the Mavs up big.

Upsetting the defending Western Conference champions in their own building in a Game 7, and having a lead as much as 46 points, is one of the most impressive and shocking wins in NBA Playoff history. The win will always be memorable in Mavericks history.

2. Clinching the 2011 NBA Finals in the 305

The night every single Maverick fan dreamed of came on June 12, 2011. The Mavs were one win away from winning their first championship in franchise history. The Mavs flew to the Magic City with a 3-2 series lead against the Miami Heat for Game 6 of the 2011 NBA Finals. A Heat win would force a Game 7, but the Mavs wanted redemption for the Heat from the 2006 NBA Finals.

Despite Dirk Nowitzki starting out 1-of-12 from the field in the first half, the Mavs led by two at halftime. In the third quarter, the Mavs outscored the Heat by seven to take a nine-point lead to the fourth quarter.

The Mavs would stun the Heat and their big three of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh by winning the Finals in six games with a 105-95 win in Game 6. Jason Terry who missed the game-tying 3-pointer in Game 6 of the 2006 NBA Finals against the Heat, would leave the Mavs with 27 points.

The criticism that Nowitzki couldn't win the big one was finally put to rest, and he was named Finals MVP. Jason Kidd, who lost two NBA Finals with the New Jersey Nets, had the third time be the charm to win his first championship as a player.

Most would think winning your first NBA Finals takes the cake as the best Playoff win in franchise history, but there was one other win from the 2011 Finals stands out more,

1. Game 2 fourth quarter comeback in 2011 Finals against Heat

Yes, there is another win that is better than winning the Finals. If this win doesn't happen, it's very likely that the Mavs don't have an opportunity to clinch the Finals in six games.

The Mavs entered Game 2 of the 2011 NBA Finals trailing the Miami Heat 1-0 in the series on the road. Game 2 was a must-win for the Mavs.

The game was tied at 51 at halftime, but the Heat took control off of the Mavs' turnovers and took a four-point lead entering the fourth quarter. But, all hope appeared to be gone when the Mavs found themselves trailing 88-73 with 7:13 remaining in the fourth quarter. A comeback looked daunting, but the Mavs refused to quit.

The Mavs went on a 17-2 run to tie the game at 90 with 57.6 seconds remaining. Nowitzki would then give the Mavs a 93-90 after making a wide-open 3-pointer with 26.7 seconds remaining. All hope appeared to be gone for the Heat. But, LeBron James found Mario Chalmers wide open off an inbound pass, and Chalmers made a three to tie the game at 93 less than two seconds after the game was tied.

With the game tied, the Mavs called on Nowitzki again. While being defended by Chris Bosh, Nowitzki attacked the rim, and made a layup with 3.6 seconds remaining to give Dallas a 95-93 win. Dwyane Wade missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer to win the game for the Heat, and the Mavs won Game 2 to even the series at one game a piece.

The improbable comeback was complete, and the Mavs stunned the NBA world. The win will be unforgotten in not only Mavs history, but NBA history too.