The Dallas Mavericks are in unfamiliar territory, entering the 2025 NBA Play-In Tournament after an injury-riddled season. Following their run to the NBA Finals last year, Jason Kidd’s squad has struggled to replicate that success, finishing 10th in the Western Conference. However, a 120-106 victory over the Sacramento Kings secured their spot in this must-win matchup against the Memphis Grizzlies.
On the other side, the Grizzlies are coming off a 121-116 loss to the Golden State Warriors, which dashed their hopes of clinching a direct playoff spot. Now, these two teams face off in a game that will decide who keeps their postseason dreams alive and who heads home early.
The Play-In Tournament, introduced to add late-season excitement, determines the final two playoff spots in each conference. Teams finishing the regular season 7th through 10th qualify to this mini-elimination round.
In the West, the Warriors (7th) are in, while the Sacramento Kings (9th) have been eliminated. That leaves the Grizzlies (8th) and Mavericks (10th) battling for the final playoff position.
What happens if the Mavericks beat the Grizzlies?
If the Mavericks secure a win over the Grizzlies, Anthony Davis and company will punch their ticket to the NBA Playoffs as the 8th seed. They’ll face the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round.
This outcome would mark a hard-fought return to postseason action for Dallas, despite their struggles this season. Memphis, meanwhile, would miss the playoffs for the second straight year, a tough blow for a team led by Ja Morant.
What happens if the Mavericks lose to the Grizzlies?
Should the Grizzlies prevail, they’ll move on to face the Thunder as the 8th seed, while Dallas will miss the playoffs for the second time in five seasons. This result would end a challenging campaign for the Mavericks, one plagued by injuries and inconsistency, despite high hopes following last season’s Finals appearance.
What happens if the Mavericks and the Grizzlies tie?
While ties are rare, the NBA Play-In rules are clear: if the game ends in a tie, a five-minute overtime period will be played. Should the game remain tied after the first overtime, additional five-minute periods will continue until one team emerges victorious. The winner, regardless of how long it takes, will secure the final playoff spot in the Western Conference and advance to a first-round showdown with the Thunder.
SURVEY Who do you think will advance to the playoffs?
Who do you think will advance to the playoffs?
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