Suns Postseason Options Dwindle After Mavericks Victory

The Dallas Mavericks winning last night put a cap on what the Phoenix Suns can do in the standings.

Apr 10, 2024; Miami, Florida, USA; Dallas Mavericks forward Tim Hardaway Jr. (10) reacts against the / Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports

PHOENIX -- The Phoenix Suns are in search of anything above a play-in tournament spot with just two games left in the regular season, but now it's the sixth seed or bust for Frank Vogel's squad.

The Dallas Mavericks' win last night over the Miami Heat ensured they finished at least two games above any team threatening to take the No. 5 seed, most notably the Suns and New Orleans Pelicans who trail right behind them. Dallas is just one game removed from the Los Angeles Clippers in the fourth spot, a pivotal seed that would see whoever ends up with ownership hosting a playoff series in the first round.

Phoenix - even after their win over the Clippers last night - can finish just as high as the sixth seed.

"We’ve been preaching with the play-in that pretty much all of these games are playoff games. It’s going to be high intensity and you know if you lose it’s going to be the worst loss ever. If you win then it’s a big one," said Devin Booker following Phoenix's victory in Los Angeles.

As of now, the Suns hold possession of the seventh spot but will need New Orleans to lose one of their three remaining games to bump themselves up to No. 6 and avoid the play-in tournament as they own the tie-breaker over the Pelicans.

Phoenix is back in action on Friday against the Sacramento Kings, who trail the Suns by 1.5 games in the standings and are still fighting for the sixth spot themselves.