Mavs Face Nets in Key Play-In Battle
The Dallas Mavericks are hanging onto their spot in the Western Conference play-in tournament, and they’ll need a win against the Brooklyn Nets on Monday night to strengthen their position.
Mavericks’ Play-In Hopes
As of Sunday, Dallas (37-38) was holding onto ninth place in the West, just half a game ahead of the Sacramento Kings in 10th and 1.5 games above the Phoenix Suns in 11th. The teams in the seventh through 10th spots will compete in the play-in tournament for the chance to secure a playoff berth.
Davis’ Return Brings Hope
A major boost for Dallas came with the return of Anthony Davis, who had been sidelined for nearly two months due to a groin injury. Davis made a strong comeback, scoring 12 points and grabbing 6 rebounds in just over 26 minutes during the Mavs’ 120-101 victory over Brooklyn on March 24.
Although Davis missed the next game, he returned to help the Mavs win two more, including a tight 120-119 win over the Chicago Bulls. In that game, Davis posted 18 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists.
Mavericks’ Resilience After Injuries
The return of Davis is crucial for Dallas, especially after the loss of star point guard Kyrie Irving to a torn ACL on March 3. Mavericks coach Jason Kidd acknowledged the team’s resilience: “We were built around Irving and Luka Doncic. Things changed, and the injuries threw us off, but this team has character and talent.”
Player Contributions
Davis has stepped up as the team leader with 17.8 points per game since Irving’s injury, followed by P.J. Washington (14.9 points) and Klay Thompson (14.3 points). Thompson, who has started 66 games this season, is set to finish with his most starts since the 2018-19 season, the year he tore his ACL during the NBA Finals.
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Nets Struggling But Recently Victorious
The Nets have been struggling in recent weeks, losing 16 of their last 19 games. However, they bounced back with a thrilling 115-112 win over the Washington Wizards on Saturday. Drew Timme, who made his NBA debut, scored the game-winning layup with just eight seconds remaining. Timme had previously recorded a double-double in his debut game, despite Brooklyn’s heavy 32-point loss to the Clippers.
Nets coach Jordi Fernandez praised Timme’s performance: “He’s a natural player. He uses his body well, scores, rebounds, and finds his teammates.”
Nets’ Key Scorers
The Nets have also been without Cam Thomas, who averaged 24 points in just 25 games before a season-ending hamstring injury on March 13. Cameron Johnson has been a consistent scorer, averaging 18.8 points per game.
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What’s Next for Dallas?
The Mavericks need to continue their momentum and secure a victory over Brooklyn to keep their play-in hopes alive. With Davis back in the fold and the team fighting through adversity, the Mavs are focused on finishing strong to make the most of the remaining games.