The Champion's Biggest Trouble

Dirk Nowitzki had already played 40 minutes. For a veteran well over 35, logging 40 minutes in a single game was no easy task.

What's more, this was the final game of the regular season, with the playoffs just around the corner.

"Dirk doesn't want to give up today. He's trying to take a win from the legendary 74-win Grizzlies!" Hubie Brown greatly admired Dirk's spirit. An ordinary player would have given up long ago against a team like the Grizzlies.

Seventy-four wins—the NBA's new record for most wins in a single season—had been set by the Memphis Grizzlies in Phoenix two days earlier.

Ever since Link led the team to crush the Heat for their 72nd win, the Grizzlies had begun heavily resting players for the playoffs. Yet even so, they had still crushed the already dreadful Lakers and the Suns, who were fighting desperately for a playoff spot, to claim an unbelievable 74 wins!

People believed that this time, it truly would become an unbreakable record.

For that, the Mavericks definitely had the Grizzlies to thank. It was precisely because the Grizzlies had beaten the Suns two days ago for their 74th win that Dallas regained hope of returning to the playoffs.

They were only one game behind the Suns. As long as the Mavericks won today, they would overtake Phoenix on the final day of the regular season and finish eighth in the West!

So even against the legendary 74-win Grizzlies, Dirk still refused to compromise. Just like in 2011, he was dragging the entire team along as he fought the strongest force in the league!

Nowitzki was drenched in sweat by now, his long hair completely plastered to his forehead.

The Grizzlies were not going all out against the Mavericks today. The starters and reserves were