The Dallas Mavericks will be appearing in the next phase of the play-in tournament.
After Patrick Dumont and Nico Harrison arranged a bizarre timing press conference, it was left to former owner Mark Cuban to encourage Dallas Mavericks fans to refocus.
It was clear that the distraction had no effect on the players as the Dallas Mavericks beat the Sacramento Kings 120-106.
Anthony Davis stepped up with 27 points, and Klay Thompson overcame nightmare memories of the Kings when he was with the Warriors at last year’s tournament.
When Anthony Davis was traded with the Dallas Mavericks, the move was overshadowed by Luka Donsic’s move in the opposite direction.
But it was also very interesting from Davis’s point of view, as he was pushing him to play with another big name with the Lakers.
Davis didn’t want to play center, so he wanted to play Power Forward. The move to the Mavericks opened up this.
Daniel Gafford and Derek Live both overcome injuries and, together with Davis, the trio were key to Dallas’ domination Sacramento.
ESPN analyst Kendrick Perkins wrote to X:
Anthony Davis, Daniel Gafford and Derek Lively are not just the “big 3” of Star Powersense, in terms of size.
Lively played just 18 minutes against the Kings and Gafford 20, which was impressive enough, and his shock gave Davis more space to do damage.
Davis finished with 27 points, nine rebounds and one assist. He is the first to go back from an injury, playing 35 minutes.
Dallas will face Memphis for the right to play the Oklahoma City Thunder in the playoffs.