The Texas Rangers, Dallas Mavericks, and Dallas Stars were all in action over the weekend. Here is what happened on the field, on the court, and behind the scenes.
MLB
Texas Rangers (3-0, first in American League West)
Last Games: Rangers 16, Philadelphia Phillies 3; Rangers 2, Phillies 1
The Rangers opened the season with a three-game sweep of the defending National League champion Philadelphia Phillies at home. Texas scored 27 runs in the first two games while facing Philadelphia’s top two starters, and Josh Jung and Marcus Semien helped the Rangers survive a pitchers’ duel on Sunday night.
Noteworthy: The Rangers won their season-opening series for the first time since 2019 and have now won 12 consecutive games against Philadelphia.
While it is early in the season, the Rangers are in first place in the AL West for the first time since the end of the 2016 season.
Martin Perez allowed one run in five and two-thirds innings while striking out seven and clinching the sweep for Texas on Sunday.
Semien and Corey Seager both had at least one hit in each of the three games played.
Mitch Garver’s six RBIs performance on Saturday made him the first Rangers’ catcher to have that many since Mike Napoli in 2012.
Next Up: Baltimore Orioles (1-2) at Rangers, 7:05 p.m. CT Monday
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NBA
Dallas Mavericks (37-42, third in Southwest Division, 11th in Western Conference)
Last Game: Atlanta Hawks 132, Mavericks 130 (overtime)
Two Trae Young free throws in the final seconds of overtime sent the Mavericks home with their third consecutive loss. Dallas trailed for most of the game but managed to tie things up on a Kyrie Irving jumper with 37.1 seconds left in regulation and sent the game to overtime on a JaVale McGee free throw in the final second. The Mavericks held a one-point lead in overtime but could not come up with the win.
Noteworthy: The Mavericks remain in 11th place in the Western Conference, one game behind Oklahoma City for the final play-in spot.
With its 42nd loss of the season, Dallas is guaranteed to finish under .500 for the first time since the 2018-19 season. That was also the last time the Mavs missed the playoffs.
The Mavericks will complete the regular season with a three-game home stretch against the Sacramento Kings, Chicago Bulls, and San Antonio Spurs.
Next Up: Sacramento Kings (47-31) at Mavericks, 7:30 p.m. CT Wednesday
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NHL
Dallas Stars (41-21-14, tied for second in Central Division, tied for fifth in Western Conference)
Last Game: Colorado Avalanche 5, Stars 2
Nathan MacKinnon scored two goals over the first two periods as Colorado took a 3-1 lead. Trailing by two late in the third, the Stars pulled their goalie and brought on the extra attacker. While Joe Pavelski was able to find the back of the net for Dallas, the Avalanche scored two empty-net goals to preserve the game.
Noteworthy: The Stars are now tied with Colorado for second place in the Central Division and fifth place in the Western Conference. Both teams trail the Minnesota Wild by a point in the divisional race and Vegas by five points for the conference lead.
Dallas has six games left in the regular season and starts a three-game homestand on Monday.
On Friday night against Arizona, Jason Robertson broke Mike Modano’s single-season franchise record for points with a goal in the second period. Robertson added two more points with two assists during Saturday’s loss to Colorado.
Next Up: Nashville Predators (38-29-8) at Stars, 7:30 p.m. CT Monday.