“We’re Still Here”: Mavericks Knock Out Kings Behind Klay Thompson’s Redemption Play-In Game
Exactly one year after Klay Thompson’s lowest moment on the Golden 1 Center floor, the veteran sharpshooter delivered a signature performance to keep the Dallas Mavericks’ season alive.
Thompson scored 16 of his 23 points in a blistering second quarter, helping Dallas erase the ghosts of last season’s play-in failure and eliminate the Sacramento Kings with a 120-106 win on Wednesday night. The Mavericks advanced to Friday’s Western Conference Play-In Tournament finale in Memphis with the No. 8 seed — and a playoff berth — on the line.
“It did feel good to exorcise those demons in here. Man!” Thompson said during his on-court interview with ESPN. “Last time I was here was not very fun.”
Thompson had gone scoreless on 0-of-10 shooting in Golden State’s play-in loss to Sacramento on April 16, 2024 — his final game as a Warrior. Back on the same floor one year later, he overcame a quiet opening quarter with a vintage stretch, drilling four 3-pointers to spark a 44-point second-quarter explosion from Dallas.
“That kind of lifted the lid off the rim for me,” Thompson said of his first made shot, which bounced high off the rim before falling. “So that was nice.”
Klay Thompson, Anthony Davis Lead Dallas Mavericks’ Surging Second Quarter
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Thompson’s flurry turned a tight early contest into a one-sided affair. After his back-to-back triples early in the second quarter, Dallas ripped off a 20-6 run that ballooned into a 23-point halftime lead. The Kings never recovered.
“We shot it very well, got stops on defense and were able to run,” said Anthony Davis, who led Dallas with 27 points, nine rebounds, and three blocks. “Offense was clicking. We had what, 44 in the quarter? We played with a lot of pace and opened up the game.”
Davis, bloodied earlier in the night with a cut to his upper lip that required four stitches, remained unfazed — and unrelenting — throughout. After a reverse layup in the fourth quarter, he pantomimed the move as he skipped back on defense, relishing the moment.
“We know how tough it was for [Klay] losing here the last time as a Warrior,” Davis said. “The way he played tonight, you can tell it was a lot of emotion for him. We wanted to get the win for him.”
The Mavericks also got a significant boost from Brandon Williams, who entered the game listed as questionable with a left oblique strain. Williams poured in 17 points and five assists in 20 minutes off the bench. P.J. Washington added 17 points and nine rebounds. Danté Exum added 11 points and six assists, while Naji Marshall chipped in nine points, four rebounds, three assists, and two steals.
“Everyone in that locker room had each other’s back,” said Mavericks coach Jason Kidd. “It was a fun group to coach, and we still have a long way to go, we believe.”
The Mavericks received five points, four rebounds, and two steals from Dereck Lively II, who played his fifth career game next to Davis. Daniel Gafford came off the bench and added nine points, four rebounds, and two blocks. Dallas tightened up its paint defense significantly, often providing meaningful resistance.
The Mavericks did not deploy Spencer Dinwiddie or Jaden Hardy in their rotation, but they did log garbage time minutes late in the game. Marshall started at point guard, while Williams and Exum were the guards off the bench. The personnel choices Dallas makes next will be something to monitor.
Dallas did not need much from Caleb Martin or Max Christie on the wing in the end, but certainly could benefit from more production next game.
Martin went scoreless on one shot in 12 minutes and has struggled to shoot the ball overall during his Mavericks tenure thus far, adding only three rebounds, two assists, and one block. Christie only took two shots, finishing with two points, one rebound, and one assist on the night. Both players had a negative scoring differential, with Martin at -14 and Christie at -16.
Dallas Mavericks Advance, Sacramento Kings Collapse
The win sets up a showdown with the Memphis Grizzlies, who lost Tuesday’s 7–8 game to Golden State. The winner on Friday will claim the West’s final playoff spot and open a first-round series Sunday at top-seeded Oklahoma City.
“We’ve had a tumultuous season to say the least,” Thompson said. “The injury bug has struck us like I’ve never seen before. But we’re still here playing postseason basketball.”
Wednesday’s result marked another bitter ending for Sacramento. DeMar DeRozan scored 33 points and Zach LaVine added 20, but the Kings were overwhelmed by Dallas’ energy and shotmaking. The home crowd began to boo early in the fourth quarter and never got the beam-lighting moment it hoped for.
Shortly after the game, Kings general manager Monte McNair and the franchise agreed to part ways, according to multiple reports. It capped a turbulent season that included the firing of head coach Mike Brown in December and the midseason trade of De’Aaron Fox to San Antonio.
“This is where I want to be,” interim coach Doug Christie said. “You guys know that. I need to finish what I started.”
What’s Next
The Mavericks will travel to Memphis for a Friday night showdown with the Grizzlies. The winner will enter the 2025 NBA Playoffs as the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference. Tip-off is set for 8:30 p.m. CT on ESPN.
Thompson, who has often referenced the emotional toll of his final season in Golden State, wasn’t about to let one bad moment define him.
“I wasn’t going to define myself off one bad shooting night,” he said. “I’ve had some of the greatest shooting nights in the history of the game. You just keep going out there and do what you love.”
And for at least one more game, the Mavericks get to do just that.
