The Dallas Mavericks suffered a heartbreaking loss to the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday night, March 19, 2025, which has now put them outside of the NBA Play-In Tournament. Despite leading the game 128-121 in the final minute, the Mavericks fell apart with a series of turnovers and missed free throws, ultimately losing the match 135-131. This defeat leaves Dallas with a record of 33-37, placing them 11th in the Western Conference.
Head Coach Jason Kidd addressed the challenges faced by his team after the game. “They’re giving everything they have. They’re exhausted mentally and physically. There’s a lot of fight in that locker room, and they’re going to continue to fight,” Kidd said, reflecting on the difficulties of managing injuries that have plagued the team this season.
The situation for the Mavericks is doubly concerning as they share the same record with the Phoenix Suns, who have now secured the 10th seed, effectively capturing the final play-in spot due to a head-to-head tiebreaker. The Suns capitalized on their chance on the same night, defeating the Chicago Bulls 127-121 in front of a sellout crowd of 17,071 at PHX Arena. With Devin Booker leading the charge with an explosive 41-point performance, the Suns moved past the Mavericks in the standings.
In the Suns’ game, Booker showcased his scoring ability, netting 33 of his points in the second half alone, while teammate Kevin Durant contributed 26 points. The Suns’ defense also played a crucial role as they scored 23 points off 13 turnovers committed by the Bulls, further adding to their lead. The game saw moments where the Bulls fought back—Coby White and Nikola Vucevic each scored 24 points for Chicago—but the Suns’ strong defensive efforts ultimately sealed their victory.
Kidd went on to acknowledge the challenges his team faces: “But when you have eight guys and half of them are on minutes restrictions, it’s hard. It’s hard to win in this league, and they’re giving everything they’ve got. We’ll learn from this and we’ll be better next time.” Strategically, the Mavericks find themselves in a precarious position; they must finish one full game ahead of the Suns to reclaim their postseason aspirations.
As for the Suns, their win against Chicago marks a significant moment as they are set to face a challenging stretch of games. They will battle elite teams including the Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston Celtics, and Milwaukee Bucks over the next few weeks. Coach Mike Budenholzer acknowledged the importance of consistency for his team moving forward. “He was very special,” Budenholzer said of Booker’s performance. “Made some big shots, big plays in the fourth quarter.”
Looking ahead, the Suns hope to build on their recent success while navigating a difficult schedule. Booker emphasized, “Just being connected on the defensive side of the ball. Once you're getting stops and not taking the ball out of the net every time and having to run something every time down, I think everybody gets in a better flow.”
This reinforces the notion that the Suns must maintain their defensive cohesion while they aim to secure their playoff positioning against the toughest competition. Meanwhile, the Mavericks are left reflecting on missed opportunities and strategizing on how to return to winning ways amid the challenges of injuries and consistent lineup changes.
As the season races to an end, both teams find themselves in a critical moment of the season. The Mavericks are keen on making a push to reestablish themselves while the Suns will look to solidify their hold on the final play-in spot. With only a dozen games remaining, the intensity of competition will only increase, making every game crucial not just for standings but for the momentum leading into the postseason.
