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Mavericks’ weak first quarter dooms them to defeat against tough Raptors

If what happened Saturday to the Dallas Mavericks happens one more time this season, they will move into uncharted territory.

The Toronto Raptors led wire-to-wire and used their physicality to upend the Mavs 94-86 before a sellout crowd of 19,934 at American Airlines Center. The loss dropped the Mavs to 31-41 and four games behind Denver for the eighth and last playoff spot in the Western Conference.

More important, the loss prevented the Mavs from having a winning season for the 16th time in the last 17 seasons. Also, one more loss in their final 10 games and the Mavs will have their first losing (full) season since Mark Cuban purchased the franchise from Ross Perot Jr.