Play-in Tournament Matchup
Now that the regular season has concluded, the Dallas Mavericks have zeroed in on their pivotal play-in tournament matchup against the Sacramento Kings.
The 10th-seeded Mavericks practiced Monday morning and will do so again Tuesday before they fly to Sacramento for Wednesday’s showdown.
Mavericks coach Jason Kidd had several of his assistants begin the preparation for Sacramento ahead of Sunday’s regular season finale in Memphis. Kidd is expecting a Game 7-like atmosphere at Golden 1 Center.
Preparing for the Kings
“They’re a talented team and they have some injuries too, but they’ve been playing at a high level. Those guys are playing 35-plus minutes. … When you look at [Zach] Lavine is shooting the ball at a high clip and [DeMar] DeRozan, you focus on those guys and [Domantas] Sabonis can hurt you.”
Recent History
Recent history suggests Sacramento will be an unfavorable matchup for the shorthanded Mavericks, who lost all three games of the season series to the ninth-seeded Kings. DeRozan drained a 13-foot floater with two seconds left of an overtime thriller to help Sacramento escape American Airlines Center on Feb. 10.
“He was cooking in that game, too, offensively,” Kidd said. “We got to make it tough, challenge shots. This is a team that [has] professional scorers. We got to try to break their rhythm and not let them get in a groove.”
Injuries and Player Availability
The most recent meeting was the most devastating of the trio since it coincided with Kyrie Irving’s season-ending torn left ACL as the Kings pummeled a deflated Mavericks team, 122-98, on March 3.
P.J. Washington missed the last two losses to the Kings, but scored 28 points in the first meeting of the season on Dec. 30. The Mavericks versatile forward said he’s looking forward to his second postseason appearance after playing a pivotal role in last year’s NBA Finals run.
“Excited to be able to play in the postseason,” Washington said. “I don’t think we were healthy in none of the matches we played them so it’s going to be different. I think with [Anthony Davis], it’s going to be a lot better for us. It’s going to be good. I can’t wait to get there, excited for the moment.”
Kings’ Firepower
The Kings will enter the game with a 20-21 record at home, and without their starting point guard, Malik Monk, who is sidelined with a strained left calf. Despite his absence, Sacramento has an abundance of firepower. Lavine shot 44% from 3-point land in 74 games this season, while DeRozan is still capable of scoring in bunches. Sabonis led the NBA in rebounding this season with 13.9 boards per game.
Klay Thompson’s final game as a member of the Golden State Warriors was against the Kings, a game that was less than desirable as he went scoreless without making any of his 10 attempts from the field. The Mavericks veteran said he’s looking forward to going to Sacramento, but he’s not treating it any differently given his recent postseason history.
“Like I would approach any other postseason game,” Thompson said. “Give it your undivided attention and ultimate effort and live with the results.”
Team Resolve
A trip to the play-in tournament isn’t the result anyone in the Mavericks’ front office envisioned when the season began, but injuries and a sudden change in direction have derailed the defending Western Conference champs’ fortunes. Kidd applauded the team’s resolve despite the ups and downs of the season.
“It’s been a lot, for everybody, emotionally and physically,” Kidd said. “I think the group has done an incredible job to be in this position. We’ve never complained or felt sorry for ourselves. We’ve come out and competed and played hard. The two things we can control are our energy and effort. And I thought the group did a great job of doing that. Now we’re the 10th seed trying to find a way to win on the road.”
Find more Mavericks coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.
Conclusion
The Mavericks are gearing up for a tough matchup against the Sacramento Kings in the play-in tournament. Despite their recent history and injuries, the team is determined to come out on top. With the help of their experienced players and a strong team resolve, they are ready to face the challenge and make a push for the playoffs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the Mavericks’ current seeding in the play-in tournament?
A: The Mavericks are currently the 10th seed in the play-in tournament.
Q: Who will the Mavericks be playing in the play-in tournament?
A: The Mavericks will be playing the Sacramento Kings in the play-in tournament.
Q: What is the status of Anthony Davis’ injury?
A: Anthony Davis is expected to play in the play-in tournament after being sidelined with a left adductor strain.
Q: Who is the Kings’ starting point guard and what is his status?
A: The Kings’ starting point guard is Malik Monk, who is currently sidelined with a strained left calf.
