Suns Get Eclipsed As Mavs Tune Out Jazz, Clinch Playoff Berth 130-101

If any team is playing hard right now, it's the Dallas Mavericks. The pressure was on as every other team clinched playoff berths in the Western Conference, while Mark Cuban's boys were fighting the Phoenix Suns for the last spot. They came out and bounced Phoenix on Sunday, inching closer to their berth.

Tonight, they had a tough test. Dallas had to face the Utah Jazz. Though the Jazz are monsters at home and not so much on the road, they're still a threat.

The Mavs have had some bitter games against Utah that often result in Dirk Nowitzki getting called for a flagrant foul or getting suspended.

The Mavs were at home and needed a win to clinch the berth. Dallas' remaining games are some tough ones and Phoenix has the second-easiest remaining schedule left with sub .500 teams.

The Mavericks have back-to-back games with the Hornets so, they had to come out strong while Phoenix fought off CP3 and the Hornets to remain in the chase for the last playoff berth.

The Mavericks simply treated the game as it were life and death. They were relentless on both the defensive and offensive ends. The Jazz were out-hustled, out-worked, out-rebounded, all the works.

Cuban's boys were lighting it up all night while their owner jumped for joy after every shot pounded Jerry Sloan's boys.

Six players were in double figures, including Erick Dampier who had 10 points and 10 rebounds. When Dampier is out-working you, something is terribly wrong.

James Singleton was looking like an All-Star himself, with put-backs and offensive and defensive rebounds.

Dallas were just all over the place. Killing Utah in the paint, the post, the glass, the fast break, long range, just everything.

Speaking of long range, Mavs made 11 three-pointers in the Utah beatdown.

The Mavs are 28th in the league when it comes to three-point shooting. Jason Kidd was handing out assists like hotcakes. Luckily for Utah, Kidd didn't serve up 20 like he did against the Suns. Jason Terry is no doubt the sixth man.

How many teams have a guy who can come off the bench and drop 20 points a night?

He dropped 21 points and was just ripping the nearly lifeless Jazz. Not only did he destroy, but he had five three-pointers. This team had three straight quarters of 30+ points.

Josh Howard was nearly put out of commission when he was hit in the face trying to lay up the ball. He finished with 13 points though.

It was Jose Juan Barea who was the true All-Star. The point guard plays with so much passion coming off the bench and he delivered.

Barea had 18 points and nine assists, one shy from a double-double. With Kidd, Barea, and Terry dishing out assists like hotcakes, I'd say the Utah Jazz were in an IHOP restaurant. The Mavericks were in full control of this game.

Jazz's big three of Deron Williams, Mehmet Okur, and Carlos Boozer combined for 38 points. Dirk Notwizki nearly outscored all three of them with 31 points. He scored 19 of those points in the third quarter, with 12 straight—ouch.

These guys are pretty darn good, they're playing with some heart and I believe they can make it in the playoffs if they continue to play the way they have lately. I'm excited to see Dallas playing at this level.

The defeat of Utah not only clinched Dallas the last Western Conference playoff berth and eliminated the Suns from playoff contention, but they've tied with the Jazz for seventh seed in the west. Both teams are 47-31.

Andrew Bynum is coming back and no one wants to take on Kobe and company.

This loss is a huge blow to the Jazz as they face the Spurs next, who are also fighting for seed placing.

A Jazz loss and a win against the Hornets can put the Mavs in the sixth spot. The playoff seeding is getting intense as the season closes and Phoenix are watching the sun set. Who will be placed where? This is going down to the wire.