With eight games left, Mavs control their play-in destiny

CHICAGO –After weeks of going back-and-forth and jockeying for position with the Phoenix Suns, it has finally happened.

The Dallas Mavericks are firmly in control of their own destiny. The Mavs can continue scoreboard watching – if they so choose.

But if the Mavs just win their remaining eight regular season games, they’ll clinch at least the No. 10 spot in the Western Conference’s play-in tournament. That’s because if the Mavs (36-38) run the table and win all eight games, they’ll finish the season with a 44-38 record.

Meanwhile, if the Phoenix Suns (35-39) win their remaining eight games, the best they can do is a 43-39 record. Those two scenarios would vault the Mavs into at least the No. 10 play-in slot and earn them one of the four spots for the NBA’s play-in tournament.

Then again, moving up and securing the No. 9 seed is still in play for the Mavs. As the Mavs prepare to play the Chicago Bulls on Saturday at 7 p.m., they’re only half-a-game behind the No.9 seeded Sacramento Kings (36-37), who swept the season series against the Mavs, 3-0.

The Mavs also have the schedule on their side as only half of their remaining games are against teams with a winning record. They have two games left at the Los Angeles Clippers, and one each against the Los Angeles Lakers (44-29) and Memphis Grizzlies (44-29).

The Suns still have games remaining against seven teams with a winning record: Houston, at Milwaukee, at Boston, at New York, Golden State, Oklahoma City and at Sacramento.

Meanwhile, of the Kings’ remaining nine games, six of them are against teams with an above .500 record. That includes at Indiana – back-to-back games at Cleveland and at Detroit – while finishing the season hosting Denver and the Clippers, and playing at Phoenix.

Guard Jaden Hardy acknowledged that the balance of this season is all about the Mavs lifting each other up.

“Each game we know it’s going to be a dog fight, so leaning on each other – that’s what we do,” Hardy said. “Everybody in that locker room believes in each other.”

Not even the rash of injuries that have served as speed bumps hasn’t slow down the Mavs from their appointed goal. Why not?

“Well, one, we don’t talk about injuries,” coach Jason Kidd said. “Two, we talk about the guys who can play. You got guys who are fighting to get back from injury.

“(Anthony Davis) has shown that, Caleb (Martin) has shown that, and hopefully (Daniel Gafford) and (Dereck Lively II) are next to, hopefully, be back playing. We’re going to fight to the end, and we learn from our wins and losses.”

And if the Mavs just win their final eight games, they’ll learn that they will at least own one of the play-in tournament spots.

Here are some other nuggets surrounding Saturday’s game against the Bulls.

*This is the finale of a four-game trip before the Mavs return home to host Brooklyn on Monday and Atlanta on Wednesday. The Mavs are 2-1 on this road trip following a win against Brooklyn (120-101) on Monday, a loss against New York (128-113) on Tuesday, and a victory over Orlando (101-92) on Thursday.

*The Bulls have been one of the hottest teams in the NBA in recent weeks, going 8-2 in their last 10 games. Only Oklahoma City, Houston and Boston – all 9-1 – own better records than the Bulls over the last 10 games.

*For the Mavs, Kyrie Irving (torn left ACL), Dante Exum (left fractured hand) and Olivier-Maxence Prosper (right wrist surgery) are all out Saturday. P.J. Washington (left ankle sprain) and Kai Jones (hip) are listed as questionable. Anthony Davis (left adductor strain), Brandon Williams (back) and Caleb Martin (right hip strain) are probable. Dereck Lively II (right ankle stress fracture) and Daniel Gafford (knee) are listed as doubtful.

*Tre Jones, Ayo Dosunmu (left shoulder) will not play Saturday. Lonzo Ball (wrist) is listed as doubtful.

*Way back on Nov. 6 in Dallas, the Mavs blew out the Bulls, 119-99. The Mavs led that game, 88-68, after the third quarter.

*The Bulls have beaten the Los Angeles Lakers twice during a six-game span. They spanked the Lakers in LA, 146-115, on March 22. And they enter Saturday’s game after a dramatic 119-117 win over the Lakers this past Thursday when Josh Giddey drained a halfcourt shot at the buzzer.

DALLAS MAVERICKS (36-38) at CHICAGO BULLS (33-40)

When: 7 p.m., Saturday

Where: United Center, Chicago

TV: KFAA-29, MavsTV Stream

Radio: KEGL 97.1 FM The Eagle, 99.1 FM Zona MX (Spanish)

X: @DwainPrice