Can Dallas Mavericks make the 2023 NBA playoffs?

With just two games to go in their regular season, the Dallas Mavericks are on the cusp of missing the postseason. They sit in 11th place in the Western Conference with a record of 38-42.

While they might be outside of the play-in tournament window right now, there is still a chance for Luka Doncic and company. They are only a half-game behind the OKC Thunder (39-42), who are in 10th place. For Dallas to sneak in, it needs the Thunder to lose on Sunday while the Mavericks win out.

Based on tiebreaker rules, both the Thunder and ninth-place T-Wolves (40-40) are ahead of them as they each won the season series against Dallas 2-1. So, even if Minnesota loses its final two games and Dallas wins its final two, the Mavs can't overcome the Timberwolves.

Dallas is home for its last two games, hosting the Chicago Bulls (38-42) on Friday and the San Antonio Spurs (21-59) on Sunday.

The Thunder have one game left, hosting the Memphis Grizzlies (50-30) on Sunday.

After pushing all in to acquire Kyrie Irving at the trade deadline, things are starting to look bleak for Luka and the Dallas Mavericks.

About the author

Kevin McCormick is a basketball writer at Sportskeeda with over four years of experience in journalism and a bachelor's degree in Sports Management Marketing from Holy Family University.

Kevin has worked with various notable outlets throughout his career, including 97.3 ESPN, ClutchPoints, Heavy Sports, and Sports Illustrated/FanNation, before joining Sportskeeda in March 2022.

Specializing in NBA and WNBA coverage, Kevin's passion for basketball stems from his hometown team, the Philadelphia 76ers. Among his favorite players are Kevin Durant, Chet Holmgren, and Steph Curry, while his all-time favorites include Magic Johnson and Larry Bird.

Kevin holds Coach K in high regard for the large input he's had on the game helping mold players across multiple generations. Kevin believes the iconic rivalry between Larry Bird and Magic Johnson helped elevate the league to its current status.

Through his writing, Kevin provides in-depth analysis and insights into player and coach quotes. He prioritizes sourcing information from credible and reliable outlets.

Kevin enjoys reading, aiming to finish at least one book per month, and he is a big fan of music.

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Edited by Kevin McCormick