Dallas eliminated Oklahoma City in five games last year

"Once the ball tips off, it's a series that we're both trying to win," Miami's Dwyane Wade said. "Obviously it makes great headlines and makes everyone in the organization really tuned in to what's going on. It's kind of like they're looking at us like, 'All right, go get it done for us.' But when the ball tips off, it's another game against a very talented opponent."

Also Saturday, the Indiana Pacers host the Orlando Magic, who playoff hopes seem to have left along with Dwight Howard, before the Mavericks visit the Thunder in the nightcap.

Dallas eliminated Oklahoma City in five games last year on its way to the NBA championship. The teams ended up in the first round this season after the Thunder fell into the No. 2 seed with a late-season stumble, and the Mavericks could never put together a run to move up.

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Ellsbury had gotten off to a poor start

Ellsbury had gotten off to a poor start. He was 3 for 23 (.130) entering the game, but he drove in Boston's only run in a 3-1 loss to Toronto Wednesday afternoon. Last season, he had 212 hits and led the majors in total bases (364), becoming the first primary leadoff hitter to lead the majors in total bases since Bobby Bonds with the San Francisco Giants in 1973.

Ellsbury was using his speed in hopes of breaking up the double play.

"You know, it was a 3-2 pitch and he was breaking on the pitch. I held my ground, just caught it and got rid of it,'' said Brignac. "Like every infielder does in that situation, we leave our feet because when people are trying to take you out, or break up a double play, when your feet are stuck in the ground, that's how people break knees and ankles. It happened to Akinori [Iwamura] a few years ago with us. We're taught to catch, throw, and get off our feet.''