Klay Thompson showed up when it mattered most. One year after going scoreless in Sacramento, Klay Thompson dropped 23 points, including 16 in a massive second quarter, to lead the Dallas Mavericks to a 120-106 victory over the Kings in the NBA Play-In Tournament on Wednesday night.
Klay Thompson Redemption in Sacramento
Klay Thompson’s performance came exactly a year after a forgettable night when he missed all 10 shots in a play-in loss with the Warriors. This time, he hit four threes in the second quarter alone, helping the Mavericks outscore the Kings 44-20 in that stretch.
Anthony Davis topped the scoring for Dallas with 27 points, while Klay Thompson’s hot hand helped stretch the lead to 23 points by halftime. Sacramento never recovered.
Dallas now advances to face the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday night for the final Western Conference playoff spot. The winner will take on the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round on Sunday.
A Season of Chaos for the Mavs
The Mavericks’ journey this season has been dramatic. They traded superstar Luka Dončić to the Lakers for Anthony Davis—a move that angered many fans. Then, star guard Kyrie Irving suffered a season-ending knee injury.
Despite the setbacks, Dallas still has a chance at playoff glory, thanks to Thompson’s clutch shooting and a tough defensive showing.
Kings Crash Out Again
DeMar DeRozan led the Kings with 33 points, and Zach LaVine added 20. But it wasn’t enough. Sacramento’s season ends in disappointment again, missing the playoffs for the 18th time in 19 years. Coach Mike Brown was fired midseason, and star point guard De’Aaron Fox was traded to San Antonio.
Heat Stay Alive with Win Over Bulls
In the Eastern Conference play-in, Tyler Herro scored 38 points to lead the Miami Heat past the Chicago Bulls 109-90. Herro scored 23 in the first half alone, as Miami jumped out to a 71-47 lead.
The Heat will now travel to Atlanta on Friday for a shot at the final Eastern Conference playoff spot. A win would set up a first-round matchup with the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers.
Andrew Wiggins contributed 20 points and nine rebounds, while Bam Adebayo added 15 points and 12 boards. The Heat also made up for being swept by the Bulls in the regular season with 10 steals and seven blocks.
Chicago’s Josh Giddey had 25 points and 10 rebounds, but the team couldn’t keep up. The Bulls have now failed to make the playoffs for three straight seasons.
What’s Next?
- Dallas Mavericks vs. Memphis Grizzlies – Friday night for the final West playoff spot.
- Miami Heat vs. Atlanta Hawks – Friday night for the final East playoff spot.
Both winners will move on to face the No. 1 seeds in their respective conferences on Sunday.
