Dallas Mavs Clinch Top-6 Seed in NBA Playoffs, Avoid Play-In Tournament

The Dallas Mavericks have officially made the NBA playoffs for the 19th time in 24 seasons. Their first-round opponent will likely be the Los Angeles Clippers.

The Dallas Mavericks took care of business against the Charlotte Hornets on Tuesday night, winning in blowout fashion, 130-104.

With the win, which pushed their record to 49-30, and a Phoenix Suns loss to the Los Angeles Clippers, the Mavs officially clinched a spot in the NBA playoffs after missing the postseason entirely last season. Avoiding the Play-In Tournament was key, as it will now give the Mavs an extra week of rest after the regular season ends.

"We're not satisfied to say this is our best,” head coach Jason Kidd after his team’s 15th win in 17 games. “Hopefully this is just the start of our journey. … When guys are having fun playing defense, you have a chance."

It is the 25th time in the Mavs’ 44-year history that they’ve made the playoffs. After making the playoffs 19 times in the last 24 years, Dallas joins the Boston Celtics (20) and the San Antonio Spurs (19) as the only three teams to reach that mark in that time span (h/t Mavs PR).

The Mavs are currently the No. 5 seed in the West, and they will likely face the No. 4 seed Los Angeles Clippers in the first round of the playoffs for the third time in five years. If the Mavs win their last three games, and the Clippers lose their last three games, Dallas would claim the No. 4 seed and home-court advantage. More than likely, though, Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving and the rest of the crew will open the playoffs in Los Angeles.

Next up, the Mavs shoot for 50 wins against the Miami Heat on Wednesday night. Both Dallas and Miami will be playing on the second night of a back-to-back. This Mavs’ stretch of winning 15 games in 17 tries started a little over a month ago on March 7, when Kidd plugged Daniel Gafford and Derrick Jones Jr. into the starting lineup, and Dallas defeated Miami at home, 114-108.