Home sweet home.
That’s what the Dallas Mavericks were likely chanting Friday night inside American Airlines Center after they clinched homecourt advantage in the first round of the playoffs with a 128-78 thumping of the Portland Trail Blazers. It was the 16th win in their last 21 games for the Mavs and marked the first time they’ve had home court advantage in a playoff series since beating the Oklahoma City Thunder in five games in the 2011 Western Conference Finals.
There was no confetti occupying the AAC court after the Mavs overpowered the Blazers and put themselves in position to advance to the second round of the playoffs if they just win their home games.