Before the 2025 NBA Playoffs begin, the annual Play-In Tournament will determine which teams earn the final spots in the postseason bracket.
The Mavericks and Kings will play in the second game of Wednesday night’s Play-In Tournament doubleheader. Sacramento earned the ninth seed, securing home-court advantage by finishing one game ahead of Dallas in the Western Conference standings.
Dallas is coming off an NBA Finals run, but the team is no longer built around Luka Doncic, who was sent to the Lakers before the trade deadline. The Mavs will lean heavily on Anthony Davis with Kyrie Irving stuck on the sideline.
Here is a complete guide to watching Mavericks vs. Kings, including the start time, TV channel and live stream information for the 2025 NBA Play-In Tournament game.
What channel is Mavs vs. Kings on today?
- TV channel: ESPN
- Live stream: Sling
NBA fans can watch the Mavericks vs. Kings game live on ESPN.
Fans looking to stream Mavericks vs. Kings can watch live on Sling, which will carry every playoff game in 2025.
Sling is your home for playoff action. Catch NBA and NHL postseason games with a range of sports channels, including TNT, TBS, truTV, ESPN, ABC and more.
Mavs vs. Kings start time
- Date: Wednesday, April 16
- Time: 10 p.m. ET | 9 p.m. CT | 7 p.m. PT
The 2025 NBA Play-In Tournament game between the Mavericks and Kings is set to tip off at 10 p.m. ET from the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, Calif.
Dallas enters the Play-In Tournament fresh off a run to the 2024 NBA Finals, but the team opted to trade Doncic to the Lakers. The Mavericks will also be without Irving, who underwent knee surgery in March to repair a torn ACL.
Sacramento also made significant changes at the deadline, trading De’Aaron Fox to the Spurs in a three-team deal. The Kings received Zach LaVine as the centerpiece of their return package.
Mavs vs. Kings radio station
- Radio station: SiriusXM channels 86, 212
Fans can listen to Mavericks vs. Kings live on SiriusXM. Coverage will be available on channels 86 (Kings broadcast) and 212 (Mavericks broadcast).
New subscribers can enjoy SiriusXM for free for four months. Listen to live NBA, NFL, MLB and NHL games, plus NASCAR, college sports and more. Stay updated with all the news and get all the analysis on multiple sport-specific channels.
NBA Play-In Tournament schedule 2025
Tuesday, April 15
Winners advance to playoffs as No. 7 seed
- Magic 120, Hawks 95
- Warriors 121, Grizzlies 116
Wednesday, April 16
Losers are eliminated, winners play Friday
- Bulls vs. Heat, 7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN, Sling
- Kings vs. Mavs, 10 p.m. ET, ESPN, Sling
Friday, April 18
Winners advance to playoffs as No. 8 seed
- Hawks vs. Bulls-Heat winner, 7 p.m. ET, TNT, Sling
- Grizzlies vs. Kings-Mavs winner, 9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN, Sling
NBA Playoffs schedule, key dates for 2025
Here are the key dates to know for the NBA Playoffs and offseason. Some series start dates could move up depending on when previous series end.
| Event | Dates |
|---|---|
| Play-In Tournament | April 15-18 |
| First round begins | April 19 |
| Conference semifinals begin | May 5-6 |
| NBA Draft Lottery | May 12 |
| Western Conference finals begin | May 20 |
| Eastern Conference finals begin | May 21 |
| NBA Finals begin | June 5 |
| NBA Finals Game 7 (if necessary) | June 22 |
| NBA Draft | June 25-26 |
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