Dallas Mavericks to Make NBA Play-in Tournament Debut

The Dallas Mavericks will make their NBA play-in tournament debut Wednesday night against the Sacramento Kings.

It’s not the outcome the franchise expected coming off an NBA Finals appearance, but it’s the only way for the Mavericks to clinch a playoff berth after a tumultuous season, full of devastating injuries and a groundbreaking midseason trade.

The location of that game is still undetermined. Whether the 9-10 matchup will be played at American Airlines Center will be determined by the results of the final game of the regular season for the Mavericks and Kings.

The Mavericks (39-42) can finish with the ninth seed only if they manage to defeat the Memphis Grizzlies in Sunday’s regular season finale, along with a loss by Sacramento to the Phoenix Suns. A loss for Dallas or a Sacramento win would guarantee a 10th-place finish for the Mavericks, who would then travel to play the Kings at Golden 1 Center.

Understanding the NBA Play-in Tournament

That could be confusing for some fans who aren’t familiar with the format of the tournament, so here’s an explainer:

The play-in tournament features the Nos. 7-10 teams in each conference who will compete for the seventh and eighth playoff seeds. Teams that finish seventh in the standings will face the eighth-place team. Teams that finish ninth will face the 10th-place team.

When is the NBA Play-in Tournament?

The preliminary tournament will begin on Tuesday with the 7-8 matchups in both conferences, followed by the 9-10 matchups on Wednesday. The winner of the 7-8 matchup receives the seventh seed and advances to the playoffs. The winner of the 9-10 matchup will play against the loser of the 7-8 matchup on Friday to determine the eighth seed. The loser is eliminated from playoff contention.

What Will it Take to Win?

The Mavericks will need to win two games, possibly on the road, just to have a shot at facing the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round of the playoffs.

What will it take to win two single-elimination games? Mavericks star Anthony Davis spoke about the tournament after Friday’s win over the Toronto Raptors.

“I’ve had the luxury of doing that in college,” Davis said. “One game. Win or go home, so we gotta have that mindset of obviously just one game at a time. There is pressure. You don’t get a feel-out game like you usually do when you’re in the playoffs. You get that Game 1 and kind of see what teams are doing. You have to come in ready to go.”

A Brief History of the NBA Play-in Tournament

The NBA play-in tournament began during the 2019-20 season. The original format pitted the eighth- and ninth-place teams against each other to determine the final seed of the playoffs. The league introduced the current format in the 2020-21 season.

Davis knows the play-in tournament well. He competed in the tourney three times as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers. While he’d prefer to have a solidified playoff spot, he’s a fan of the opportunity to compete.

“It gives us a chance to get in,” Davis said. “When you’re that seventh or eighth seed, you can get knocked out. Before, with seven or eight, you’re locked in to the playoffs. … I don’t think it’s going anywhere so you just gotta get used to it. As of now, I like the format a lot.”

Preparation is Key

The Mavericks have known their play-in tournament opponent since Wednesday, when the Suns were officially eliminated from postseason contention. Dallas finished 0-3 against Sacramento this season.

“It’s good that we know who we’re playing,” Davis said. “We can start prepping and getting ready. Obviously we have a game against Memphis, but you kind of start getting ready 1744550317. They got a couple of days before we play them to kind of dive deep into what they do and they’re schemes and our schemes that we’re going to have for them.”

Conclusion

The Dallas Mavericks are set to make their NBA play-in tournament debut against the Sacramento Kings. The team will need to win two games to have a shot at facing the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round of the playoffs. With the help of star player Anthony Davis, the Mavericks are preparing for the tournament and are ready to take on the challenge.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the NBA play-in tournament?

A: The play-in tournament features the Nos. 7-10 teams in each conference who will compete for the seventh and eighth playoff seeds.

Q: When is the NBA play-in tournament?

A: The preliminary tournament will begin on Tuesday with the 7-8 matchups in both conferences, followed by the 9-10 matchups on Wednesday.

Q: What will it take to win the tournament?

A: The Mavericks will need to win two games, possibly on the road, just to have a shot at facing the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round of the playoffs.

Q: Who is the Mavericks’ opponent in the play-in tournament?

A: The Mavericks will face the Sacramento Kings in the play-in tournament.