Top Ad
I DIG Radio
www.idigradio.com
Listen live to the best music from around the world!
I DIG Style
www.idigstyle.com
Learn about the latest fashion styles and more...

Texas two-step? Stars motivated by Mavs' march

Written by 
Published in Hockey
Friday, 31 May 2024 13:57

DALLAS -- The Dallas Mavericks advanced to the NBA Finals on Thursday night. The Dallas Stars said that's extra motivation to advance to their own championship round -- and potentially make sports history in the process.

"I think it only drives you to get to that same point," said Stars captain Jamie Benn on Friday, ahead of Game 5 against the Edmonton Oilers with their series tied 2-2. "Obviously, we want to get to the finals here. We've got a best of three, with home ice, to do that. Seeing the Mavs almost get to their goal of winning, we want to be there too."

No city or region has had teams win NBA and NHL championships in the same season.

Teams from the same city/region have advanced to their respective finals 10 times, most recently the Florida Panthers and Miami Heat in 2023. In those scenarios, the NBA team won and the NHL team lost three times; the NHL team won and the NBA team fell short twice; and both teams lost in the finals five times.

The Mavericks and Stars both play in American Airlines Center. Fans were already lined up outside of the arena for NBA Finals tickets when the Stars took the ice for an optional skate at 10:30 a.m. Friday.

Forward Wyatt Johnston, in his second year in the NHL, said he wasn't the biggest basketball fan growing up in Toronto but has gotten into the Mavericks' run of success.

"Playing in the same arena, being around a team like the Mavs and I'm definitely getting into it a lot more, especially in this playoff run for them," he said. "The games are really exciting, it's fun to watch, and I mean it's great for the city having two teams going on deep runs. It motivates us."

It's been quite a run for Dallas sports -- the Cowboys, who haven't reached an NFC Championship Game since winning their last Super Bowl following the 1995 season, notably excepted. The Stars have made the Western Conference finals in consecutive seasons and made the Stanley Cup Final in 2020. The Mavericks, led by star Luka Doncic, made the conference finals in two of the past three seasons before advancing to the NBA Finals this year to face the Boston Celtics.

"I want it for them," Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott said earlier this week. "I want it because it only raises the stakes and makes it tougher on me. And I'm for that. Go win it. Rangers did it. Other two go do it. Put more f---ing pressure on us."

But Benn noted the spark of that fan enthusiasm in Dallas was the Texas Rangers' World Series win last season, the first championship in the team's history.

"Both [the Stars and Mavericks] got some motivation from the Rangers as well. They started this thing last October and got the city buzzing. It's a great time to be a sports fan here in Dallas," he said.

The Stars lost Game 4 in Edmonton on Tuesday night and lost key defenseman Chris Tanev to a foot injury during that game. Coach Pete DeBoer said Friday that Tanev is a game-time decision but that he is "optimistic" the defenseman will play in Game 5.

"He's a warrior. I've known that before he even got here, playing against him," Benn said. "He really does everything and anything to help his team. He pays the price for his team to give his team the best chance to win."

Read 99 times

Soccer

Ancelotti: Madrid slowly getting 'back to our best'

Ancelotti: Madrid slowly getting 'back to our best'

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsReal Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said his team are improving "litt...

Mbappé, Vini score as Madrid win with late flurry

Mbappé, Vini score as Madrid win with late flurry

Vinícius Júnior came off the bench to score once and set up another goal to steer champions Real Mad...

Martino blames ref as Miami suffers Shield setback

Martino blames ref as Miami suffers Shield setback

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsInter Miami head coach Gerardo "Tata" Martino claimed the match aga...

2026 FIFA


2028 LOS ANGELES OLYMPIC

UEFA

2024 PARIS OLYMPIC


Basketball

McCoy, longtime radio voice of Suns, dies at 91

McCoy, longtime radio voice of Suns, dies at 91

EmailPrintPHOENIX -- Al McCoy, who was the radio voice of the Phoenix Suns for more than a half-cent...

Sources: Griffin, 21, mulls NBA future after buyout

Sources: Griffin, 21, mulls NBA future after buyout

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsThe Houston Rockets reached terms on a buyout with forward AJ Griff...

Baseball

Lindor to miss rest of series; earliest return Tues.

Lindor to miss rest of series; earliest return Tues.

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsNEW YORK -- Francisco Lindor wasn't in the New York Mets' lineup fo...

Rangers scratch Scherzer, give Dunning the start

Rangers scratch Scherzer, give Dunning the start

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsARLINGTON, Texas -- Three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer h...

Sports Leagues

  • FIFA

    Fédération Internationale de Football Association
  • NBA

    National Basketball Association
  • ATP

    Association of Tennis Professionals
  • MLB

    Major League Baseball
  • ITTF

    International Table Tennis Federation
  • NFL

    Nactional Football Leagues
  • FISB

    Federation Internationale de Speedball

About Us

I Dig® is a leading global brand that makes it more enjoyable to surf the internet, conduct transactions and access, share, and create information.  Today I Dig® attracts millions of users every month.r

 

Phone: (800) 737. 6040
Fax: (800) 825 5558
Website: www.idig.com
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Affiliated