For the sixth time since 2001, the San Antonio Spurs and Dallas Mavericks will square off in the playoffs, starting Sunday afternoon at the AT&T Center. Cheap Nike Shoes From China . Watch the game live on TSN2 starting at 1pm et/10am pt. For the 17th consecutive season, the Spurs will be in the postseason. For the seventh time since 1997, the Spurs finished with the best record in the Western Conference. The Big Three of Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili returned intact and key contributors did exactly what Spurs role players do - they played sensationally. Kawhi Leonard, Danny Green, Tiago Splitter, Patty Mills, Boris Diaw and, especially newcomer Marco Belinelli, played brilliantly for stretches this season. Popovich is a master of resting his players as the season progresses and San Antonio heads to the postseason in good health. "We had an unbelievable regular season, we put ourselves in a great situation to be No. 1 overall," said Ginobili. "Were going for it, like every year." If there was ever a season the Spurs couldve folded, this wouldve been the one. Their longevity is stunning, but this season couldve very easily been a championship defense until Ray Allen stuck a dagger in the Spurs hearts. Miamis Allen made a crazy 3-pointer to tie Game 6 of the NBA Finals, a game the Heat went on to win. Miami took Game 7 to win back-to-back titles, but the inevitability of a San Antonio win in Game 6 was so clear, tape was being put up around the floor in Miami to prepare for San Antonios celebration. "What does impress me about the group is that theyve gotten themselves in this position after a devastating loss in the Finals last year," Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich said earlier in the week. "I thought they were pretty amazing after Game 6 to play as hard as they did in Game 7, when I think a lot of teams would have just given in. Beyond that, they came back, put it aside and have done what theyve done. I think thats pretty impressive. I dont think a lot of people have picked up on that but I have and Im really impressed with them." The Mavericks are back in the playoffs after a one-year absence, meaning Dallas has been in the postseason 13 of the last 14 years. They earned the eighth seed after a gritty overtime loss on Wednesday to the Grizzlies in Memphis. "Yeah, well be OK," Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle said immediately after the loss in Memphis. "I feel good about our team. I really do. And (Wednesday night) is a great indication of the fight we have in us. Were going to take that fight to San Antonio." The Spurs have won nine straight against their Texas rivals, including a four- game sweep this season, but that doesnt mean Dallas doesnt know what it takes to beat San Antonio. "What youve got to do against San Antonio is youve got to be a little smarter than we were in the last couple of outings," said Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki. "We feel like one little, two little mistakes and boom, its a three. A brutal missed boxout, pass out and three. Against that team youve got to be smart, youve got to execute perfectly and weve got to shoot the ball well." Nowitzki made yet another All-Star team with averages of 21.7 ppg and 6.2 rpg. He shot 90 percent from the foul line, almost 50 percent from the field and just about 40 percent from long range. Monta Ellis and Jose Calderon joined the Mavs in the offseason and formed a very strong backcourt. They combined to average 30.4 ppg and 10.4 apg. After the All-Texas match-up, the Miami Heat begin their title defense in earnest on Sunday afternoon when they welcome the Charlotte Bobcats to American Airlines Arena. Watch the game live on TSN2 starting at 3:30pm et/12:30pm pt. Miami has won the last two NBA titles and lost in the Finals three years ago to the Dallas Mavericks. The Heat have made the playoffs 10 times in the last 11 years and earned the second seed in the Eastern Conference. Miami has won four straight Southeast titles and is trying to become the first three-time champion since the Los Angeles Lakers from 1999-00 to 2001-02. "I dont need extra motivation. Im motivated enough," said LeBron James. "This is the best part of the season, its the best time of the year. Im happy to be here once again." The Heat had a real chance at the No. 1 seed, but head coach Erik Spoelstra elected to sit James and Chris Bosh the last two games. Dwyane Wade missed significant time toward the end, but he played late to get some timing back. "Weve got to carry the load," said James, who said all Heat players participated in practice for the first time since training camp. "Its great. I guess guys are ready for the playoffs." The decision to concede the No. 1 seed could hurt later in the postseason, if the Heat advance. Last season, Miami won Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Indiana Pacers and Game 7 of the NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs in South Beach. The Heat come into the postseason in a bit of a rut. They lost the last three games of the regular season, although, they did rest some key pieces. However, Miami did drop six of its last eight and James and Bosh were in the lineup for most of those setbacks. Charlotte is in the playoffs for only the second time in franchise history and was swept in four games by the Orlando Magic back in 2009-10. The Bobcats surprised the NBA world with just the second record of .500 or better in team lore at 43-39, one season after going 21-61 and compiling only 28 wins in the previous two years. What was the difference this season? That would be the offseason addition of Al Jefferson. Jefferson, the reigning Eastern Conference Player of the Month for April, averaged 21.8 points and 10.8 rebounds for the Bobcats, who were 20-9 after the All-Star break and ended with 14 wins in the last 19 games of the regular season. Jefferson was the only player in the Eastern Conference and one of only five players in the NBA averaging at least 20.0 points and 10.0 rebounds on the season. New head coach Steve Clifford infused the team with a defensive mindset. The Bobcats finished fourth in opponents scoring and sixth in opponents field- goal percentage. Charlotte did have some trouble scoring this season. The Bobcats finished 23rd in points, while Miami was 12th. The Heat ranked fifth in opponents scoring. The Bobcats won their last three regular-season games and eight of their last nine. The Heat swept all four games against the Bobcats in the regular season and are undefeated in the past 16 games between the teams. Charlotte has lost nine straight and 12 of its last 13 trips to South Beach. Fake Shoes 2020 . - Connor McDavid scored twice and added two assists as the Erie Otters beat the Sarnia Sting 7-3 on Saturday night in Ontario Hockey League action. Wholesale Shoes Authentic .C. Lions. The clubs former starting quarterback, assistant and head coach returned Thursday as its receivers coach. https://www.wholesaleshoesusa.com/ . After not scoring 40 points in the opening quarter in the last five seasons, the Rockets have done it five times this season and twice in the last three games.SEATTLE - Another close call. Another week where, no matter the improvement, the Oakland Raiders showed why they still remained winless.I think its coming. This team is far better than we were, Ill tell you that, veteran safety Charles Woodson said. Our record says what we are, but we are a far better team than what we were previously.Marshawn Lynch scored on a pair of first-half touchdown runs, Bruce Irvin intercepted Derek Carrs pass and returned in 35 yards for another score and the Seattle Seahawks beat the Raiders 30-24 on Sunday.The loss was expected. There was a reason the Raiders were more than two-touchdown underdogs going on the road to face the defending Super Bowl champions. But Oakland made the second half uncomfortable for Seattle and nearly got the bounce it needed to have one more chance at the victory in the final minutes.This thing is starting to turn, interim Oakland coach Tony Sparano said. Were playing better and better here as we go on. Weve just got to get all phases to play better so that we can get the feeling of what its like to be in their locker room right now.Down 24-3 at halftime, the Raiders twice pulled within one score. Oakland got a spark from its special teams when Denico Autry blocked Jon Ryans punt on the first possession of the second half and Brice Butler recovered the ball in the end zone for a touchdown. It was the first punt block for a touchdown against Seattle since 2003 and the second for Oakland in the past two seasons.After another brief possession by the Seahawks, T.J. Carrie returned Ryans punt 27 yards to the Seattle 30. Carr hit Darren McFadden for 23 yards and on fourth-and-goal at the 1, Rivera hauled in a pass at the back of the end zone to cut Seattles lead to 24-17.Then down 30-17 in the fourth quarter, Carr led one more scoring drive hitting Rivera again on a 1-yard TD with 1:52 left to pull within six. Sebastian Janikowskis onside kick was misplayed by Seattles Cooper Helfet, but Jermaine Kearse fell on the loose ball and Seattle ran out the clock to hand the Raiders (0-8) their 14th straight loss dating to last season.I know you all would like it easier and smoother and cleaner and all that, but its a battle. Suck it up, Seattle coach Pete Carroll said.Oakland could not overcome its first-half mistakes that included two interceptions by Carr. IIrvin tipped Carrs pass intended for James Jones, located the ball in the air then beat Carr to the pylon for his first career touchdown. Cheap Shoes From China. Later in the first half, Richard Sherman got his first interception of the season, getting better position than Andre Holmes on a back-shoulder pass and pulling in the pick with his left hand. T.J. Carrie also fumbled a kickoff that Hauschka recovered.In the first half, I was doing too much, Carr said. In the second half, I came out and was like, You know what, Ive just got to do my job and trust everyone else will do theres and all these things. You saw how we battled in the second half.Carr was 24 of 41 for 194 yards passing, but the Raiders had no run game. Already the worst in the NFL, Oakland finished with 37 yards rushing.Lynch finished with 67 yards rushing and another 76 receiving, but the day could have been far more productive for Seattles bulldozing back. Lynch had gains of 43, 20 and 11 yards on either runs or passes called back by penalties. He scored on a 3-yard run on Seattles opening drive, carrying Oakland defenders and teammates into the end zone. His 5-yard run at the end of the first half gave the Seahawks a 21-point lead that seemed plenty comfortable at the time.Not all was perfect for Seattle. Russell Wilson struggled through one of his worst passing games and the Seahawks failed to capitalize on numerous chances to rout the winless Raiders. Wilson was 17 of 35 passing for 179 yards with stretches of inconsistency. Seattle was also limited by injuries including three starters on the offensive line out at one point of the second half.Whatever I was trying to do, it just wasnt working, Wilson said. But, the thing is, we won.NOTES: Janikowski hit from 48 yards in the first quarter, but missed a 51-yarder on the final play of the first half. ... It was the second time this season Oakland has been held to less than 50 yards rushing as a team. Raiders were held to 25 yards in Week 1 by the Jets. ... Seattle paid tribute to the recent school shooting at Marysville-Pilchuck High School with a moment of silence before the game and MP decals on the Seahawks helmets. DE Greg Scruggs also ran out of the tunnel during pregame intros carrying an MP flag.___AP NFL websites: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP_NFL ' ' '