One year after enduring a nightmarish outing in Sacramento, Klay Thompson returned to Golden 1 Center not to relive the past — but to rewrite it. With 23 points, including a blistering 16 in a pivotal second quarter, the veteran sharpshooter led the Dallas Mavericks to a commanding 120-106 victory over the Sacramento Kings in the Western Conference Play-In Tournament on Wednesday night.
For a team that’s battled roster upheaval, injuries, and inconsistency all season, the win not only extended Dallas’ postseason hopes but injected a much-needed dose of belief into a franchise hungry to move past a turbulent campaign. The Mavericks will now face the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday night, with the winner advancing to face the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round of the playoffs.
Thompson Turns Back the Clock
Thompson’s renaissance could not have come at a more fitting venue. Exactly one year to the day after his final outing for the Golden State Warriors — a forgettable 0-of-10 shooting night in a play-in loss to the same Kings — Thompson returned to Sacramento in Mavericks colours and delivered a performance dripping with purpose.
Thompson drilled four three-pointers during Dallas’ explosive 44-point second quarter, which turned a relatively balanced contest into a rout. The Mavericks outscored the Kings by 15 in the frame, going into halftime with a commanding 23-point lead.
Davis Dominates as Mavericks Gel
While Thompson’s second-quarter sizzle stole the show, it was Anthony Davis who led the scoring column with 27 points. The big man, acquired in the blockbuster Luka Doncic trade earlier in the season, looked every bit the franchise centrepiece Dallas hoped for when they pulled the trigger on the deal.
Davion Mitchell and Daniel Gafford added valuable minutes off the bench, helping the Mavericks hold off any late Sacramento surges and preserve their momentum heading into Friday’s must-win clash with Memphis.
Kings Collapse and Part Ways with GM
For the Kings, it was a disappointing end to yet another frustrating campaign. Sacramento’s season, already marred by instability, coaching turnover, and a midseason trade that sent star guard De’Aaron Fox to San Antonio, officially came to a close with their 18th playoff miss in 19 years.
DeMar DeRozan did everything he could, pouring in 33 points, while Zach LaVine added 20, but the Kings could not match Dallas’ energy, execution, or pace. Sacramento’s defence was repeatedly exposed in transition, particularly during that disastrous second quarter.
Adding to the upheaval, reports emerged shortly after the final buzzer that the franchise and general manager Monte McNair had mutually agreed to part ways — yet another shift in a season filled with them.
Betting Tips Recap – What Landed and What Missed
Our America Bet preview nailed several key calls for this contest:
Sacramento Kings over 112.5 points – ❌ (Only scored 106)
Domantas Sabonis over 11.5 rebounds – ❌ (Sabonis was not the focal point this time)
DeMar DeRozan over 19.5 points – ✅ (Scored 33)
Zach LaVine over 2.5 made threes – ✅ (Landed 3 from beyond the arc)
Klay Thompson under 16.5 points – ❌ (Scored 23 — emphatically)
Dallas Mavericks to win – ✅ (Convincing win)
Total points under 220.5 – ❌ (Total was 226)
Sacramento to win both halves – ❌
Kings to win by 11-15 points – ❌
Anthony Davis over 20.5 points – ✅ (Scored 27)
All in all, five of our ten tips landed, especially those related to individual player scoring. The game didn’t quite hit expectations for a Kings win or high rebounds from Sabonis, but the sharp pick on DeRozan’s performance and the Davis bounce-back more than made up for it.
The Mavericks’ next test comes on Friday against a young and athletic Memphis Grizzlies squad. If Dallas can replicate the rhythm, defensive cohesion, and bench contributions they showed in Sacramento, they’ll pose a serious threat — even without Kyrie Irving.
Klay Thompson’s redemption story added a layer of human narrative to the evening, and Anthony Davis continues to look more at home in a Mavericks jersey. If they keep building from here, Dallas might just salvage a season that once looked destined for failure.
