THE DALLAS MAVERICKS' disappointing 2022-23 season had slogged to its final two games.
It was April 7, 2023, and the Mavs had fallen one game behind the final spot in the Western Conference play-in tournament. They weren't mathematically eliminated from the postseason, but the odds were stacked against them heading into a home game against the Chicago Bulls.
And Dallas was preparing to wave the white flag.
Mavs superstar guard Luka Doncic declared that he'd keep playing if there was even a "little chance" of Dallas qualifying for the play-in.