The Dallas Mavericks would prefer to avoid the play-in tournament. That’s why they can’t afford to squander an opportunity like they have on Saturday night.They’ll visit Detroit to face the Pistons, who just won their 10th game this season.Dallas sits eighth in the Western Conference standings. The top six finishers will automatically qualify for the opening round of the playoffs.The Mavericks snapped a three-game losing streak by defeating Miami 114-108 Thursday.”Every game is critical for us,” swingman Dante Exum said. “We need to kind of set our foot down and create this identity of who we’re going to be going into the postseason. If we lock down on defense, we’re an offensive team that can outscore anybody.”Dallas’ defense was ineffective during the previous six games, as it gave up anywhere from 120 to 138 points. The only win the Mavs recorded during that stretch was a 136-125 triumph in Toronto, when it shot 54.2 percent from the field.Their win over the Heat wasn’t decided until crunch time. Exum made a go-ahead 3-pointer with 3:15 left. With his team up by three, Exum drained two free throws with 21 seconds left to secure the victory.”Miami’s a tough team. They have a winning coach over there,” Luka Doncic said. “It was a tough game. I’m happy we got a win. I think we showed our physicality, too. The refs were letting us play.”Doncic can make history on Saturday. He became the second player in NBA history to notch five consecutive 30-point triple-doubles with 35 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists against the Heat. Russell Westbrook recorded five straight 30-point triple-doubles in 2017.Doncic is averaging a league-high 34.6 points, 9.8 assists and 9.0 rebounds.”I’ve always said we can’t take that young man for granted,” Mavericks coach Jason Kidd said. “You’re seeing something as rare as a Picasso.”