Tim Hardaway Jr. on Mavs Playoffs Push: 'Ball Is In Our Court'
The Dallas Mavericks kept their season afloat on Wednesday in a 123-119 victory over the Sacramento Kings, ending their three-game skid.
Following a 1-7 stretch that placed them on the outside looking in when it comes to the play-in tournament, Tim Hardaway Jr. and the Mavs knew it was time for a reality check if they wanted to salvage their season.
"I think it was just looking ourselves in the mirror," Hardaway Jr. said. "Asking ourselves 'the ball's in your court -- what do you guys want to do?'"
Hardaway Jr. certainly looked himself in the mirror, finishing Wednesday's win with 24 points, four rebounds, and four assists on 8-of-14 shooting from the field and 5-of-8 from downtown.
"It's up to us now. We put the work in. We know what we have to do so go out there and do it," Hardaway Jr. said.
Wednesday's victory tied Dallas and Oklahoma City in the standings with two games remaining each team. For the Thunder, they hold the tiebreaker over the Mavericks, meaning that Dallas must win one more game than OKC over the last two to land the final Western Conference play-in spot.
"They still believe that they can get in. We all understand what the situation is, we need a little help," Jason Kidd said postgame. "But we have to take care of our business, and this was part of that process."
Hardaway Jr. added: “Just happy we all took the message and it came out with a victory.”
Dallas will need to take the same message come Friday as they take on the Chicago Bulls, who might be resting key players due to already being locked into their play-in spot in the East.
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