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The Dallas Mavericks pulled off a much-needed victory over the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday night, winning 123-119 to keep their faint hopes of making the playoffs alive.
The Mavericks came into this game knowing that a defeat would mark the end of their postseason aspirations.
Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving were supposed to lead this team on a deep playoff run, instead, it has been one defeat after another.
Mavericks keep play-in hopes alive
However, with their season on the line, led by their two superstars, they pulled out a win.
This win means the Mavs are now tied with Oklahoma City Thunder, although the Thunder hold on to the 10th and last play-in spot due to the tiebreaker over Dallas.
How it happened
The first half was pretty much what we have come to expect from the new-look Mavericks. Scoring with ease but offering no resistance on the defensive end. The Kings were able to score at will with the Mavs possessing no perimeter or rim protection.
The Kings maintained the tempo through the second quarter and went into the half leading 71-60.
The Mavericks picked it up at the start of the second half and it felt like the gravity of the situation finally dawned on them.
Tim Hardaway Jr. and Luka Doncic combined for 23 points in the third quarter, making six 3-pointers between them.
The Kings stayed in the game as both sides traded buckets but In the end, they couldn’t stop the surge of momentum from Kyrie Irving as he hit shot after shot.
The Mavericks pulled out the win and kept their play-in tournament hopes alive.
Irving led all scorers with 31 points as well as contributing eight assists. Doncic scored 29 points and grabbed 10 rebounds.
De’Aron Fox led the Kings with 28 points. Domantas Sabonis had a triple-double, putting up 19 points, 11 rebounds, and 11 assists.
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