Dallas Mavs Eliminated from NBA In-Season Tournament, But Have Bigger Goals

The Dallas Mavericks will have to wait for next season to contend in the inaugural NBA In-Season Tournament after being eliminated on Friday night.

The NBA is always changing and attempting to add in new wrinkles that can generate more revenue and add more fan engagement to their league. 

This season, the NBA introduced the In-Season Tournament, which places each team in group play amongst four other teams before dwindling down to the final eight teams with the best record, who will compete in the knockout rounds to crown the first NBA Cup champion in Las Vegas.

For the Dallas Mavericks, their attempt at making it to the knockout rounds fell short on Friday night. With victories by both the New Orleans Pelicans and Phoenix Suns, the Mavs have been mathematically eliminated from advancing in the In-Season Tournament. 

Mavs' Dereck Lively II and Pelicans' Jonas Vananciunas battle for a rebound / Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

Dallas, who owns a 1-2 record in In-Season Tournament games, needed everything to fall their way to even be eligible for a wild card spot to move on to the quarterfinals yet with wins by the Pelicans and Suns, the Mavs will be foregoing a trip to Vegas and the chance to win the the prize money of $500,000 per player.

The Mavs' two losses in the In-Season Tournament games came against the Denver Nuggets, who were also eliminated on Friday night, and the Pelicans, who are currently in first place in Group B and the favorites to win the group.

With the Mavs eliminated, they'll have to play the waiting game to see who their final two regular season games will be against. For the 22 teams who fail to advance to the knockout rounds, they'll have one home game and one road game scheduled on Dec. 6 and Dec. 8 against one of their fellow eliminated teams.

For Dallas, it's onto the pursuit for the real trophy -- the Larry O'Brien. 

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