Mavericks and Spurs in a Game 7 in Texas

It would have been great for the Dallas Mavericks to sew up this series quickly.

But NO, they had to drop two games in a row to give the San Antonio Spurs a chance. Now, the Mavericks are looking at a tied 3-3 series as they face elimination away from home.

It's high anxiety in Dallas as fans have watched the Mavericks cough up a 3-1 series lead against the defending world champions. Through all the sky-is-falling stuff, however, it should not be forgotten just how special this best-of-7 match has been.

Game 7 makes this a super series. The competitive nature of the teams makes it even better. These kind only come around once every decade or so.

By at least one barometer, you have to go back to the NBA Finals of 1998 to find a more competitive series.

The Mavericks and San Antonio Spurs have played five games decided by five points or fewer. The last time that happened, the Chicago Bulls and Utah Jazz were playing for the NBA title, with the Bulls winning 4-2. The margins in those games: 3 in overtime, 5, 42, 4, 2 and 1.

In this series: 2, 22, 1, 5 in overtime, 1 and 5.

Yes, there have been other hotly contested series since '98. Sacramento and the Los Angeles Lakers had a blood-boiler in 2002 that featured six games decided by seven points or fewer. And in 2000, New York and Miami decided all seven of their games by no more than eight points.

But if your criteria for a classic NBA series are ultra-close games and that it goes the distance, this is your brand of ball.

''It's a huge game,'' said Dirk Nowitzki, who has averaged 25.5 points and 13 rebounds in the series. ''It's win or go home. I don't think we're ready to go home.''

Well, if the Dallas Mavericks are not careful, they might. The San Antonio Spurs is a team you can't give any glimmer of hope. The Mavericks gave them, not once, but TWICE.

[Sports Interaction is one of the very best when it comes to delivering the very best odds for online betting. Visit and bet on Sports Interaction now.]