SACRAMENTO, California -- The Dallas Mavericks and Sacramento Kings will battle for their postseason lives as they meet in the NBA Play-In Tournament today, April 16, 2025, at the Golden 1 Center. Tipoff is set for 10 p.m. Eastern (9 p.m. Central, 7 p.m. Pacific) and fans can catch the action live on ESPN.
It’s been a frustrating follow-up to last season’s Finals run for the Mavericks (39–43), who enter the postseason as the No. 10 seed in the Western Conference. The team made headlines at the trade deadline by sending Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for nine-time All-Star Anthony Davis. Unfortunately for Dallas, Davis has been limited to just nine games since his arrival due to injury, but the Mavs are 6–3 when he plays and he is expected to be available against the Kings.
Dallas will also be without their other star, Kyrie Irving, who suffered a torn ACL last month, forcing head coach Jason Kidd to rely on playoff-tested veterans like P.J. Washington, who averages 14.7 points per game, and Klay Thompson, who contributes 14.0 points per game. Despite the injuries, the Mavs remain hopeful for a turnaround.
On the other side, the Kings (40–42), the No. 9 seed, have had their share of ups and downs this season. Since Doug Christie took over head coaching duties from Mike Brown in late December, Sacramento has played above .500 basketball. The Kings will look to their dynamic duo of former Bulls stars Zach LaVine, averaging 22.4 points per game, and DeMar DeRozan, who is contributing 22.2 points per game. The steady force for Sacramento is All-Star center Domantas Sabonis, who is averaging a double-double with 19.1 points and 10.1 rebounds per game.
In the regular season, the Kings swept the series against the Mavericks, winning all three matchups with scores of 110-100, 113-112 in overtime, and 122-98. This season, the absence of Dončić and Davis in those games has been notable, but both teams have faced challenges throughout the year. Sacramento enters as a 4.5-point favorite, according to oddsmakers.
As both teams gear up for this critical matchup, the stakes couldn’t be higher. The winner will move on to face the Memphis Grizzlies for a chance to clinch the No. 8 seed in the NBA Playoffs, which start on April 19. The Kings are coming off a strong finish to the regular season, having defeated the Phoenix Suns 109-98, thanks to double-doubles from Sabonis and Jonas Valanciunas, who had 20 points and 12 rebounds.
In contrast, the Mavericks are looking to bounce back from a disappointing end to their regular season, losing four of their last five games. Their most recent game resulted in a 132-97 defeat to the Memphis Grizzlies, where Daniel Gafford led the Mavs in scoring, but it wasn’t enough to compete with the Grizzlies' offensive onslaught.
"We know we’ve got to bring our A-game tonight," said Davis. "This is do-or-die for us, and we can’t let this opportunity slip away. We’ve got to play together and execute our game plan."
For the Kings, the focus will be on maintaining their momentum from the previous game. Sabonis emphasized the importance of teamwork, stating, "We’ve been building chemistry, and it’s crucial that we stay connected on both ends of the floor. We want to keep this season alive, and we know we have what it takes to do that."
The Mavericks have struggled with injuries, but they are expected to have Davis in the lineup tonight. His presence in the paint will be critical against a Kings team that excels at scoring in the post. On the flip side, the Kings will look to exploit the Mavs' vulnerabilities, particularly in transition and beyond the arc, where they have excelled all season.
As the teams prepare for the tip-off, fans can expect an electric atmosphere at the Golden 1 Center. The Kings are looking to capitalize on their home-court advantage, while the Mavericks are determined to prove their worth and keep their playoff hopes alive.
With both teams having much higher hopes for their seasons than the current situation they find themselves in, this matchup is not just a game; it’s a chance for redemption and a shot at the playoffs. The winner of this critical game will live to fight another day, but they won’t be in the playoffs just yet. It’s the Dallas Mavericks and the Sacramento Kings locked in a must-win matchup tonight from Golden 1 Center.
As the clock ticks down to tip-off, all eyes will be on Sacramento as the two teams prepare to battle it out for the final spot in the Play-In Tournament. Will the Kings continue their dominance over the Mavs, or will Dallas rise to the occasion and keep their season alive? Only time will tell, but one thing is for sure: this game is set to be a thrilling showdown.
