The Sacramento Kings and Dallas Mavericks will face off in the 9th vs 10th play-in game.
The winner will advance to face the loser of the Warriors and Grizzlies game, while the loser’s season is over.
The Kings and Mavericks enter this matchup at the tail end of underwhelming seasons.
Sacramento has been unable to find consistency all year, and found themselves with a 40-42 record.
Dallas entered the season hoping for another run at the NBA Finals. That was quickly dismissed once they traded Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers. The result of this and an injury plagued season resulted in a 39-43 finish.
The Kings swept the season series 3-0.
At the trade deadline, Sacramento parted ways with their franchise point guard De’Aaron Fox. As part of a three-team trade, they received Zach Lavine from the Chicago Bulls.
Lavine was reunited with former Bulls teammate DeMar Derozan. With these two alongside Domantas Sabonis, Kings fans hoped for a late playoff push.
This has not gone as planned as the Kings have gone 14-18 since acquiring Lavine. Though Lavine has been able to make up for Fox’s scoring, the team has been in a state of flux and unable to find a consistent identity.
The Kings own a top-10 scoring offense at 115 points per game, but allow just as much on defense. Sacramento have allowed the highest 3-pointer percentage from their opponents at 38.1%.
As mentioned earlier, expectations in Dallas faltered the second they traded Doncic. In return, the Mavericks received Anthony Davis from the Los Angeles Lakers. Davis impressed in his debut as a Maverick, but missed extended time with a groin injury.
This injury was just a part of the string of misfortunes Dallas has endured this season. Kyrie Irving tore his ACL in March. Derek Lively III missed time with a foot fracture. The injuries just kept piling up.
Dallas stayed afloat thanks to contributions from role players such as P.J. Washington, Daniel Gafford, Klay Thompson, Max Christie and Naji Marshall. Davis eventually returned late in the season.
Davis has averaged 20 points, 10.1 rebounds and 4.4 assists in 9 games as a Maverick. Though Davis has not returned to form, he has found ways to help the Mavericks win games in the final stretch of the season. Dallas is 6-3 in those 9 games Davis played.
The Mavericks still had some life and had a chance at the play-in. To everyone’s surprise, they outlasted the Phoenix Suns to take the 10th seed.
The Mavericks have spent all season battling adversity, but there could only be so little left in the tank.
While Sacramento has been inconsistent all year, they still have the firepower that Dallas lacks at this point of the season.
The Kings have more to play for at the moment, as their goal has always been to make the playoffs. The Mavericks would not want to risk more injury by going all out for a playoff appearance in which one of their best players, Irving, would not be available for.
Prediction: The Kings win and advance to the 8th seed game.
Stay tuned for more NBA stories and follow The Game Haus on Instagram and X!
Players must be 21 years of age or older or reach the minimum age for gambling in their respective state and located in jurisdictions where online gambling is legal. Please play responsibly. Bet with your head, not over it. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, and wants help, call or visit: (a) the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey at 1-800-Gambler or www.800gambler.org; or (b) Gamblers Anonymous at 855-2-CALL-GA or www.gamblersanonymous.org.
