Before the 2025 NBA playoffs officially began, the Play-In Tournament continued to offer high-stakes drama, with two teams stepping up their command performances to keep the season up.
On Wednesday night, the Dallas Mavericks and Miami Heat each secured a compelling victory in the elimination game, moving on to the final round of play-in. Dallas rolled past Sacramento behind Anthony Davis’s revived performance, and Miami dismantled Chicago with a paced offensive attack led by Tyler Hero.
The Mavericks are controlled by Sacramento
Final: Dallas 120 – Sacramento 106
The Dallas Mavericks looked like a playoff team in a 14-point road victory over the Sacramento Kings.
It was Davis and Klay Thompson who rose to the table as Kyrie Irving was sidelined due to the torn of the ACL. Davis dominated both ends and finished with 27 points, nine rebounds and three blocks. Thompson added 23 points, 16 of which came in the second quarter, with Dallas ahead of Sacramento 44-19.
This was the Mavericks’ first postseason outing since last year’s final, and their defensive strength reflected that urgency.
“We are eager to continue this run,” Thompson said. “We played for free and we played together. When we do that, we’re dangerous.”
Meanwhile, Sacramento saw a disappointing and difficult ending of the season. With De’aaron Fox trading midseason and head coach Mike Brown quickly being rejected, Wang never really found their footing. ESPN reported the post-match match, saying that general manager Monte McNair also said goodbye to the franchise.
Next for Dallas: Friday’s trip to Memphis. The winner will win the No. 8 seed in the West, opening the playoffs against top seeded Oklahoma City.
Chicago heat cruise
Scoreline: Miami 109 – Chicago 90
The Miami Heat came on the brink of elimination on Wednesday night, but played like a team with championship intentions.
Tyler Hero held the show in the first half, making it a perfect 8-8 from the field towards 23 points before the break. He finished the night with 38 points, five rebounds and four assists, and Miami moved forward early and didn’t allow the Bulls to recover.
The Heat opened a 39-28 lead after the first quarter, increasing the margin to 71-47 at halftime. Chicago’s defenses had no answers, and the break caused boos to fall from the crowds of the house. A short third quarter push reduced the deficit, but the Bulls never exceeded 10 points.
The losses end the Chicago season and Miami faces the Atlanta Hawks on Friday. The winner will grab the number 8 seed in the East and win a playoff matchup with the Boston Celtics.
What’s next for the NBA Play-in Tournament?
Friday Winning or Home Matchup:
- Eastern Conference: Heat @ Hawks – Winner claims 8th seed in East
- Western Conference: Mavericks @Grizzlies – Winner secures West’s 8th seed
Your daily sports action starts at danredsports.com.
