:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/30891183/20140329_jla_an4_443.0.jpg)
So I mentioned this on Twitter last night but it bears repeating - at what point in your grieving process for a bad sports loss do you think - hey you know what seems like a reasonable response to this? Rioting. Yeah rioting sounds good. I know everyone makes really stupid decisions in college (come on, it's a rite of passage) but I think if you can stay off of the news surrounding by a police force in riot gear then you've won.
But I digress. Very little action in the Western Conference playoff race last night but I want to give you guys a place to not riot so here goes.
Saturday March 29th Key Western Conference Results:
Dallas Mavericks 103 Sacramento Kings 100 (Recap) - I'd say I was surprised but I don't think you would believe me. Dallas led the Kings by as many as 17 points in the first half (which in all honesty resulted in me paying zero attention to the game) but Sacramento stormed back in the 4th quarter. In fact, with 4:07 to go in the 4th Sacramento held a 5 point lead. Dallas then rolled off a 10-0 run to take the lead and though the Kings hit a few late shots to keep it close - even having a Travis Outlaw three point attempt to tie it up - the Mavs won the game they needed to win. If you think you just saw that movie with Memphis and Utah - you did. Dirk led the way for Dallas with 19 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists in just 30 minutes. Rudy Gay put up 30 for Sacramento and managed to do it on 19 shots. Unfortunately this won't be the last time the Kings factor into the Suns race for the playoffs as they have games with Golden State, Portland, and Dallas again before closing with the Suns.
Current Western Conference Standings:
| TEAM | W | L | PCT | GB | L10 | STREAK |
| 1.San Antonio |
57 | 16 | .781 | - | 10-0 | WON 17 |
| 2. Oklahoma City |
53 | 19 | .736 | 3.5 |
7-3 | WON 1 |
| 3. LA Clippers |
52 | 22 | .703 | 5.5 | 8-2 | WON 2 |
| 4. Houston | 49 | 23 | .681 | 7.5 | 6-4 | LOST 1 |
| 5. Portland |
47 | 27 | .635 | 10.5 | 5-5 | WON 2 |
| 6. Golden State |
45 | 27 | .625 | 11.5 | 7-3 | WON 1 |
| 7. SUNS |
44 | 29 | .603 | 13 | 8-2 | WON 6 |
| 8. Memphis |
43 | 29 | .597 | 13.5 |
7-3 | LOST 1 |
| - Dallas |
44 | 30 | .595 | 13.5 | 6-4 | WON 1 |
Sunday March 30th Western Conference Games of Significance:
Knicks @ Warriors - You'd like to think the Knicks will acquit themselves a little bit better than they did in Phoenix on Friday night but you'd also like to think you'll win the lottery someday. Andrew Bogut will be out a week for the Warriors who will now use his absence to scapegoat any and all losses.
Suns @ Lakers - With 9 games left in the season the Suns have a very small number of "should win" opponents remaining. This is one of them. The Lakers don't have Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O'Neal, Elgin Baylor, or Jerry West. They have Ryan Kelly, smiling Wes Johnson, and Kendall Marshall (Pau Gasol is a maybe but even if he plays, no excuses). If you fashion yourself a playoff team you need to go into Staples Center and sweep the season series.
Grizzlies @ Trail Blazers - More no lose scenario games! I keep considering Memphis a lock to make the playoffs but if they lose this no-lose scenario game you really never know. The room for error is basically non-existent for everyone. Memphis hasn't lost consecutive games since the beginning of February and I would imagine they'd like to not start tonight.