Chris Young / ASSOCIATED PRESS
The NBA playoffs are exactly one week away. Clinging to their last chance for a playoff run, Mavs injuries kept the starters from starting against the Bulls, but there was still hope. And a loss would mean finding themselves at home watching the tournament. If you would have looked at ESPN’s injury report before the game, it looked like this:
Dallas Mavericks Injuries:
Josh Green SG
Green has been ruled out for Friday’s game against the Bulls for rest purposes.
Christian Wood F
Wood has been ruled out for Friday’s game against the Bulls due to rest purposes.
Maxi Kleber PF
Kleber (hamstring) has been ruled out for Friday’s game against the Bulls.
Kyrie Irving PG
Irving (foot) has been ruled out for Friday’s game against Chicago.
Tim Hardaway Jr. SF
Hardaway will miss Friday’s game versus the Bulls due to left ankle soreness.
The Mavs would pretty much have to make do with players who started the season warming the bench.
What was supposed to be a three-pointer by the Bulls just before the half turned into something else entirely. Jaden Hardy took it upon himself with just over two seconds left in the second period to sneak his way up and launch a ball from half-court that didn’t seem like it would land. When it did land it went right through the net to the pleasant surprise of the home crowd.
Jaden Hardy hits a half-court buzzer beater? #MFFL
https://t.co/4Sn7llYCsS
Originally tweeted by TheColdWire.com (@thecoldwire) on April 8, 2023.
Carlik Jones sent shockwaves into the crowd
Like much of the rest of the game, the third period was back and forth with the Mavs maintaining about a 10-point lead for most of it. Even when the Bulls got within two scores, the Mavs found a way to stretch it back out.
By the time there were five minutes left in the fourth period, the Bulls had taken the lead. Guard Carlik Jones sent shockwaves into the opposing crowd as he nailed a three from long range to put them up by five.
Before long, Mavs Guard AJ Lawson brought them back by hitting a second three-point shot in a row with about 2:15 on the clock, this one from the bottom of the key.
In the final minute, the Bulls refused to give up the lead. Theo Penson had a chance to tie it with 17-seconds left, but the defender was well-positioned and the shot missed, rocketing off the rim into the waiting hands of none other than Derrick Jones Jr.
The final shot was from behind the backboard
Jones Jr. had an active end to the contest. After the rebound he missed a foul shot. On the break he gathered himself enough to block another Mavs’ three-point effort by McKinley Wright.
Several shots got fired up in the last few seconds by Mavs players but they were all contested. The final shot was from behind the backboard while fading out of bounds with a defender in his face. The miss went off the top of the backboard.
At the final buzzer, the 115-112 score meant the Mavs playoff hopes were no more. One thing is for certain, the losing Mavs players don’t have to hang their heads. So they can watch the playoffs from the comfort of their own homes knowing they gave it everything they had.
