Climbing out of holes has been standard for the Mavericks this season. No grave has been too deep for them to make an escape.

Then came Game 2 of the Western Conference finals, when they were down 28 points, two coaches and more momentum than would fit into the Grand Canyon. And even with the San Antonio Spurs doing whatever they could to help the Mavericks back into the game, this chasm was just too wide.

The Mavericks' comeback, while determined, never reached fruition, and they left the SBC Center with a 119-106 loss, knotting the best-of-7 series, 1-1.