Anthony Davis makes something clear about Mavericks’ mindset ahead of Play-In debut

The Dallas Mavericks clinched a spot in the Play-In Tournament with a dominant 124-102 victory over the Toronto Raptors, led by Anthony Davis’ stellar triple-double performance. While the result secures their postseason lifeline, it’s far from the expectations the franchise had after reaching the NBA Finals last season.

The Mavericks are set to face the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday in a must-win game to secure their playoff berth. A loss would force them into a second do-or-die matchup to keep their postseason hopes alive.

Following the win over the Raptors, Davis emphasized the pressure that comes with the Play-In Tournament and discussed the mindset the team needs to succeed, drawing parallels to his college days.

“One game. Win or go home, so we gotta have that mindset of obviously just one game at a time. There is pressure,” Davis said. “You don’t get a feel-out game like you usually do when you’re in the playoffs. You get that Game 1 and kind of see what teams are doing. You have to come in ready to go”.

Davis endorses Play-In format

The original NBA Play-In format debuted in the 2019-20 season, pitting the eighth and ninth seeds against each other for the final playoff spot. The current structure was introduced the following season, adding more excitement to the postseason race.

Davis, who played in the Play-In Tournament three times during his Lakers tenure, admitted he would prefer a guaranteed playoff spot but embraced the competitive opportunity the format offers.

“It gives us a chance to get in,” Davis remarked. “When you’re that seventh or eighth seed, you can get knocked out. Before, with seven or eight, you’re locked in to the playoffs. … I don’t think it’s going anywhere, so you just gotta get used to it. As of now, I like the format a lot”.

Davis on facing the Kings

The Mavericks know they’ll face the Sacramento Kings regardless of their result in the final regular-season game against the Memphis Grizzlies. For Davis, having clarity about their opponent allows the team to prepare effectively.

“It’s good that we know who we’re playing,” Davis said. “We can start prepping and getting ready. Obviously, we have a game against Memphis, but you kind of start getting ready [now]. They got a couple of days before we play them to kind of dive deep into what they do and their schemes and our schemes that we’re going to have for them”.