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Mavericks Advance in Play-In Tournament After Thompson’s Redemption
Dallas, TX – Klay Thompson delivered a pivotal performance, scoring 16 of his 23 points in a dominant second quarter, as the Dallas Mavericks defeated the Sacramento Kings 120-106 on Wednesday night in the NBA play-in tournament. Thompson’s impactful showing served as redemption for a disappointing outing in Sacramento last year, propelling the Mavericks to advance in the tournament.
Exactly one year after a scoreless performance in Sacramento during a play-in defeat while with Golden State, Thompson ignited the Mavericks‘ victory with four three-pointers during a remarkable 44-point second quarter. This offensive explosion transformed the contest and extended the Mavericks‘ season, which has been marked by turbulence.
With this victory, the Mavericks progress to face Memphis on Friday, competing for the eighth seed in the Western Conference playoffs. The victor of that upcoming game will then proceed to the playoffs, commencing their series on Sunday against the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder.
The Dallas Mavericks have navigated a challenging season, marked by significant roster changes. A high-profile trade saw young star Luka Dončić move to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Anthony Davis, altering the team’s composition.
Further complicating matters, star point guard Kyrie Irving suffered a season-ending knee injury shortly after the trade. This setback significantly impacted aspirations for a deep playoff run, following their NBA Finals appearance last season.
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However, fueled by Thompson’s sharp-shooting and a robust defensive showing, the Mavericks remain in contention for a playoff berth.
The Mavericks initiated the second quarter with a 20-6 scoring surge, highlighted by consecutive three-pointers from Thompson. He added two more three-pointers later in the quarter, extending Dallas‘ lead to 23 points by halftime, effectively diminishing any suspense in the game.
Anthony Davis was the game’s leading scorer with 27 points for Dallas. For the Kings, DeMar DeRozan contributed 33 points, and Zach LaVine added 20.
Kings’ Playoff Hopes Dashed
This loss marks a disappointing conclusion to a subpar season for the Sacramento Kings. The season was marked by significant changes, including the dismissal of coach Mike Brown in December and the trade of star point guard De’Aaron Fox to San Antonio in February.
Ultimately, Sacramento has failed to reach the playoffs for the 18th time in the past 19 seasons, casting doubt on the team’s direction moving forward, particularly concerning the future of interim coach Doug Christie.
Heat Dominate Bulls, Advance in Play-In
Miami, FL – Tyler Herro and the Miami Heat established control early and maintained it throughout the game, showcasing a dominant performance. This type of showing has the potential to propel Miami into the NBA playoffs.
Herro amassed 38 points as the Miami Heat overwhelmed the Chicago Bulls 109-90 on Wednesday night, securing their advancement in the play-in tournament.
With 23 points coming in the first half, Herro helped Miami secure a commanding 71-47 halftime lead. The Heat effectively eliminated the Bulls from play-in contention for the third consecutive year. They are now set to compete in Atlanta on Friday, vying for a chance to face the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs. It’s noted that the Hawks were defeated by Orlando on Tuesday.
“We’re only halfway there,” coach Erik Spoelstra stated. “We didn’t have the luxury of having the one game and then you’re automatically in. Guys feel great about this win and really put a lot into this. This is not something that could just happen overnight. I feel like there’s been some good things happening the last several weeks.”
The path to this point has been arduous for the Heat. Earlier in the season, a standoff with Jimmy Butler culminated in a trade deadline deal sending him to Golden State in February. Furthermore, the team endured a 10-game losing streak in March. However, Miami rallied, winning eight of their final 12 regular-season games to finish tenth in the East with a 37-45 record.
Against Chicago, Herro demonstrated exceptional shooting, converting his first eight attempts and finishing 13 of 19 from the field.
Andrew Wiggins contributed 20 points and nine rebounds for the Heat, while Bam Adebayo added 15 points and 12 rebounds. Davion Mitchell also provided valuable support with 15 points and nine assists. Miami‘s defense was impactful, registering 10 steals and seven blocks, culminating in a decisive victory against a Bulls team that swept them in the regular season.
Josh Giddey led Chicago with 25 points and 10 rebounds. Coby White scored 17 but struggled with his shot, making only 5 of 20 attempts. Nikola Vucevic contributed 16 points and 12 rebounds.
“We didn’t really have game-plan discipline,” White admitted. “We beat them in the regular season. We thought if we just do what we normally do, then we’ll be good. But obviously, they’ve got guys that have been to the finals. They’ve got guys that know what it takes. They got a head coach who’s one of the best head coaches in the league. They came in and they were the better team tonight.”
The Bulls narrowed the deficit to 13 early in the fourth quarter but were subsequently contained, failing to reach the playoffs for the third consecutive year.
“A lot of us made big-time buckets at the right time,” Adebayo noted, highlighting the team’s clutch performance.
Herro established the game’s tempo, making all eight of his shots as the Heat seized control in the first half. His performance was complemented by Wiggins, who scored 12 in the first half, and Adebayo, who added 11 points and seven rebounds.
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