Dallas Mavericks vs Sacramento Kings Prediction & Picks - NBA

Prediction published on 4/16/25, 2:19 AM  by Erik Gibbs | Modified on 4/16/25 at 2:52 AM in NBA Picks

The NBA Play-In Tournament continues with a crucial Western Conference matchup between the Dallas Mavericks and the Sacramento Kings. With both teams fighting to keep their seasons alive, this game carries major playoff implications. While neither squad enters the game with much momentum, there's still plenty of intrigue—especially given the recent shakeups both franchises have experienced.

Dallas has had a turbulent finish to the season, winning just one of their last five games. To make matters worse, they're entering the play-in round without star guard Kyrie Irving, who suffered a season-ending knee injury. That loss casts a shadow over the Mavericks' postseason hopes, as Irving's leadership and scoring would've been vital in a single-elimination setting. Brandon Williams is also listed as questionable, adding more uncertainty to Dallas's rotation.

Sacramento finished just ahead of Dallas with a 40-42 record, earning home-court advantage for this matchup. The Kings swept the regular season series against the Mavericks, winning all three meetings—one of which was a blowout in March. Despite the departure of longtime cornerstone De'Aaron Fox in a blockbuster three-team trade, the Kings have remained competitive thanks to the addition of Zach LaVine, who has brought veteran scoring and athleticism to the backcourt.