Looking back, it seemed like the Dallas Mavericks were really poised to hoist the Larry O'Brien trophy in those playoffs. Dirk Nowitzki unleashed one of the finest postseason runs for any player, while the rest of the team seemed almost lights out in every series.
Not to mention the hardships that they endured on their way to that ring, from their 2006 Finals heartbreak against the Miami Heat to their shock 2007 first-round exit, the "We Believe" Golden State Warriors were under intense scrutiny, especially Dirk.
This is why, when the Mavericks defeated the Portland Trail Blazers in the first round, they then faced an enormous challenge in the form of the reigning back-to-back champions, the Los Angeles Lakers . Most fans expected Los Angeles to advance, instead Dallas produced one of the greatest and most shocking playoff routs in history.
And one of those players involved in the beating, John Terry , still remembers every bit of the closeout game, dubbed the "Mother's Day Massacre."
"The Mother's Day Massacre was insane. I can literally remember the meal I had. I took my mother to eat at the International House of Pancakes. I had the banana pancakes, extra syrup, and a side of bacon. Then, when you get to the game, you're in your locker, listening to your headphones. It was the ultimate moment when you're in their zone," Terry recalled .
The series wasn't really competitive by any means. It's remembered for how dominant Dallas was from the get-go, trumping the Lakers in the first three games to set up a Game 4 on May 8, 2011, that nobody could have predicted would end the way it did.
In reality, there was little to no chance that the Lakers would rally back in the series. But due to the confident nature of Kobe Bryant and the excellent team they had, coached by the legendary Phil Jackson, as well as the disappointment still etched in the Mavericks franchise, there was still little hope for fans that maybe the Lakers could do it.
But for Terry and the rest of Dallas, confidence was on their side and the sharpshooter recalls that confidence turning into unshakeable belief the moment he made his first 3-pointer near the end of the first quarter.
"People talk about being in the zone. I was literally in the zone. My first shot was wide open, there was nobody within 10 feet from me, and it was all net," stated Terry. "The hoop was the ocean after that, like, I literally could toss it up."
"Offensively, we figured out a way that we could attack them if we can spread them out and put our shooters in certain spots like either both corners or the high quad, and allow JJ to break the defense down pick and roll," he continued. "Their defense was always over-rotating, helping. All he had to do is break the paint and spray it outside, and he could really pick his poison on which one he wanted to pass to."
Dallas shot a blistering 20/32 from beyond the arc, setting a then-playoff record. Terry led the barrage with 32 points and nine threes, while Peja Stojakovic added six of his own. JJ Barea was also crucial as he dictated the whole game, finishing with 22 points and eight assists as Dallas closed the series with a 122-86 win.
The performance was made even more remarkable by just how unusual it was for everyone to see Kobe, Jackson and the rest of the Lakers, who were chasing a three-peat, just being brutally beaten like that. As competitive as they were, they had no answer for the future champions.
"Phil's just sitting over there; he wasn't whistling. He was just sitting there, just taking it, and Kobe was quiet," said Terry. "That's the first time you ever seen Kobe, just had no response."
There's no denying that the Mavericks' championship run that year was one of the hardest ever. After they dispatched the Lakers, they followed it up finishing in six games a surging Oklahoma City Thunder team that still had its young trio of Kevin Durant , Russell Westbrook and James Harden and would reach the Finals the next season.
Then came a 2006 Finals rematch against the Miami Big Three. Despite the Heat being heavily favored, Dirk and the Mavericks truly showed how hot and prepared they were to win a ring with iconic performances throughout the series. They eventually closed the series out in six games, avenging their heartbreak to win their first ring in franchise history.
Fifteen years later, the Mavericks remain one of the most respected championship teams in history. They lacked multiple stars like the teams they had beaten en route to the ring, but they still pulled it off.
And the Game 4 against the Lakers was the genesis of that journey. It was when the Mavericks truly showed the world what they were capable of, while all of Dallas realized that their years of playoff hardships might truly be coming to an end.
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Jun 3, 2026, where it first appeared in the Old School section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
