Bodog Beat

Tim Duncan has never lost a first-round playoff series, and only once since the San Antonio Spurs won their first championship in 1999 has San Antonio not advanced in the postseason. (AP Images)

But down 3-1 to the Dallas Mavericks, the third-seeded Spurs must win at home tonight in Game 5 or their season is done.

The Mavs have been here before. Up 3-1 against the Spurs in the 2006 conference semifinals, San Antonio rallied to even the series and forced Dallas to close the series in overtime of Game 7.

Role players, always essential to San Antonio, have fizzled this series. Duncan and Tony Parker combined for 75 percent of San Antonio's points in a 99-90 loss in Game 4, and it still wasn't enough. The duo made 25 of 42 shots from the field, and everyone else was 6 of 28.

The 5.5-point underdog Mavericks are 10-3 ATS in the last 13 meetings in San Antonio. Get your NBA basketball odds in the Bodog Sportsbook.