When the buzzer sounded on the Mavericks’ 132-105 victory over Indiana Saturday night at American Airlines Center, Rick Carlisle spent several minutes hugging, glad-handing and smiling with a lot of Mavericks’ players, coaches and support personnel.
Inside, he was not happy with the outcome of the game. But coming back to Dallas, with the tribute video before the game and the huge ovation he received when he was announced, it was a festive night for Carlisle filled with emotion.
But enough about that.
The Mavericks did what they were supposed to do. They took care of business against a lottery-bound team that had won in overtime the night before in Oklahoma City.