Mavericks Beat Kings 120-106, Advance to Face Grizzlies

The Dallas Mavericks and Miami Heat kept their playoff hopes alive with decisive victories in the NBA Play-In Tournament, eliminating the Sacramento Kings and Chicago Bulls, respectively. The Mavericks, led by Anthony Davis's 27 points and Klay Thompson's 23, used a dominant 44-point second quarter to defeat the Kings 120-106, setting up a crucial matchup against the Memphis Grizzlies for the West's No. 8 seed. The Heat, powered by Tyler Herro's 38 points, controlled the game from start to finish in a 109-90 win over the Bulls and will now face the Atlanta Hawks for the final Eastern Conference playoff spot. Both the Kings and Bulls now face uncertain futures after disappointing seasons, with Sacramento missing the playoffs for the 18th time in 19 years and Chicago entering the offseason with questions about their roster direction. The outcomes set the stage for high-stakes elimination games that will finalize the playoff brackets, with the Mavericks and Heat just one win away from advancing.