Crucial Playoff Push: Luka Doncic drives Dallas Mavericks to essential win over Sacramento Kings

Key victory for Dallas Mavericks to qualify directly for the playoffs against Sacramento Kings at home by 132-96. The Texans scored a blow on the table against the Californians, direct rivals for that place, thanks to a superhuman Luka Doncic.

Between him and Kyrie Irving they led their team again in a duel that again showed that the trade deadline additions gave the team a new look. The Slovenian finished the duel with 28 points, 11 rebounds and 6 assists. Kyrie contributed 24 points and 8 assists. PJ Washington had 14 points and 13 rebounds and Tim Hardaway Jr. contributed 22 points off the bench.

For the Kings, completely overwhelmed, the 18 points from an unsuccessful De'Aaron Fox and 17 from Keegan Murray were of no use. Domantas Sabonis had 12 points (3 of 10 from the field), 11 rebounds and 9 assists.

This win leaves the Mavs sixth in the West with 43 wins and 29 losses, one game ahead of the Kings and Suns and three ahead of the Lakers. They have won 9 of their last 10 games and are the second best team in the league behind the surprising Houston Rockets. Next Saturday, again in Sacramento, another Mavs-Kings game in which the Californians will have to show another face if they do not want the direct playoffs to start slipping away from them.