Precious Achiuwa scored a career-high 29 points on Thursday night, while Naji Marshall came close with 36 points, one shy of his best. The Dallas Mavericks won the game 130-121 against the Sacramento Kings, both of whom are not pushing for playoff spots.
Neither team is focused on playoff success despite hopes before the season. With several key players resting, the bench players had the opportunity to shine, showcasing the trend of tanking in the NBA at the end of the season.
Less Known Players Excel in a Match Both Teams Preferred to Lose
While NBA players aim to compete hard, many organizations shift priorities, choosing to focus on draft positions rather than winning late-season games.
On Thursday, the Mavericks rested starters P.J. Washington and Daniel Gafford, along with injured rookie Copper Flagg. The Kings did the same with Russell Westbrook and Keegan Murray, following recent season-ending injuries to key players like Domantas Sabonis and Zach LaVine.
Achiuwa and Marshall excelled primarily because scoring must happen in any game. Achiuwa grabbed his 12th rebound, leading to a putback basket with 1:29 left, and the Mavericks did not score again after that. Although Achiuwa had a standout performance, the game felt more like a Summer League match than a typical NBA contest.