NBA Play-In Highlights April 16: 5 Explosive Moments from Elimination Games
NBA Play-In Highlights April 16 lit up screens as two do-or-die elimination games in the 2025 SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament delivered heart-pounding action. On Wednesday, April 16, the Miami Heat crushed the Chicago Bulls 109-90 in the East, while the Dallas Mavericks edged out the Sacramento Kings 112-108 in the West, per ESPN. These games, broadcast on ESPN, decided who advances to Friday’s final play-in matchups for the No. 8 seeds against the Atlanta Hawks and Memphis Grizzlies, per NBA.com. With stars like Tyler Herro and Luka Dončić shining, and the Bulls and Kings now eliminated, the night was a rollercoaster of drama. What defined these games, and what’s next? Let’s dive into the scores, standout performances, and key moments from this thrilling night.
Table of Contents
- Overview of NBA Play-In Highlights April 16
- Heat vs. Bulls: Miami’s Dominant Win
- Mavericks vs. Kings: Dallas’ Clutch Victory
- Standout Performers of the Night
- What’s Next for the Play-In Tournament
- Conclusion
Overview of NBA Play-In Highlights April 16
The 2025 NBA Play-In Tournament, running April 15-18, pits the 7th through 10th seeds in each conference against each other to claim the final playoff spots, per NBA.com. On April 16, two elimination games took center stage: No. 10 Miami Heat at No. 9 Chicago Bulls (7:30 p.m. ET) and No. 10 Dallas Mavericks at No. 9 Sacramento Kings (10 p.m. ET), both aired on ESPN, per USA Today. Winners advance to Friday’s games for a shot at the No. 8 seed, while losers enter the draft lottery, per CBS Sports.
The Heat’s 109-90 rout of the Bulls showcased their defensive prowess, while the Mavericks’ 112-108 nail-biter over the Kings hinged on late-game heroics, per ESPN. X posts, like @NBA’s clip of Herro’s stepback three, captured the night’s intensity, per X. These results set up Miami vs. Atlanta and Dallas vs. Memphis on April 18, with playoff berths on the line, per Yahoo Sports.
Heat vs. Bulls: Miami’s Dominant Win
In the Eastern Conference, the No. 10 Miami Heat overwhelmed the No. 9 Chicago Bulls 109-90 at the United Center, advancing to face the Atlanta Hawks on Friday, per ESPN. Miami jumped to a 30-18 first-quarter lead, fueled by Tyler Herro’s 23 first-half points, including a stepback three that trended on X, per CBS Sports. The Bulls, despite a late third-quarter push, crumbled as Miami’s defense held them to 42% shooting and 8-of-28 from three, per Yahoo Sports.
Chicago’s three-game win streak ended abruptly, with Coby White’s 20 points and Josh Giddey’s 14 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists not enough, per CBS Sports. Miami’s balanced attack—six players in double figures—and 48% three-point shooting sealed the Bulls’ elimination, per NBA.com. The Heat now eye a rematch with Atlanta, whom they beat in 2023’s play-in, per Fox Sports.
Mavericks vs. Kings: Dallas’ Clutch Victory
In the West, the No. 10 Dallas Mavericks outlasted the No. 9 Sacramento Kings 112-108 in a thriller at Golden 1 Center, per ESPN. Luka Dončić’s 34 points, 9 assists, and 6 rebounds powered Dallas, with a clutch Kyrie Irving three giving them a 105-102 lead with 1:30 left, per Yahoo Sports. The Kings, led by DeMar DeRozan’s 28 points and Domantas Sabonis’ 20 points and 10 rebounds, fought back but missed key shots late, per CBS Sports.
Dallas shot 46% from the field and won the rebounding battle 44-39, overcoming Sacramento’s late 10-2 run, per NBA.com. Anthony Davis, referenced in X posts like @NBA’s, wasn’t involved, but Dallas’ stars delivered, per X. The Kings, eliminated, head to the lottery, while Dallas faces Memphis for the No. 8 seed, per USA Today.
Standout Performers of the Night
Tyler Herro stole the show in Miami’s win, dropping 28 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists, with 6-of-10 threes, per ESPN. Jimmy Butler added 18 points and 8 rebounds, anchoring Miami’s defense, per CBS Sports. For Chicago, White’s 20 points couldn’t spark a comeback, per Yahoo Sports.
In the West, Luka Dončić dazzled with 34 points, including 4-of-8 from three, per NBA.com. Kyrie Irving’s 22 points, with a game-sealing three, proved vital, per Fox Sports. DeRozan’s 28 points for Sacramento were valiant, but Dallas’ star power prevailed, per ESPN. These performances, highlighted on X, defined the night’s drama, per X.
What’s Next for the Play-In Tournament
Friday, April 18, brings the final play-in games: Miami vs. No. 8 Atlanta Hawks (4 p.m. ET, TNT) for the East’s No. 8 seed to face No. 1 Cleveland Cavaliers, and Dallas vs. No. 8 Memphis Grizzlies (time TBD, TNT) for the West’s No. 8 seed to face No. 1 Denver Nuggets, per USA Today. Atlanta, after losing 120-95 to Orlando, needs Trae Young to rebound, per CBS Sports. Memphis, falling 121-116 to Golden State, banks on Ja Morant’s return, per ESPN.
The playoffs start April 19, with first-round matchups like Orlando vs. Boston and Golden State vs. Houston, per NBA.com. Eliminated teams, like Chicago and Sacramento, shift to the draft lottery, per Yahoo Sports. Fans can catch updates and livestreams on Sling TV or Hulu + Live TV, per Yahoo Sports.
Conclusion
NBA Play-In Highlights April 16 delivered unforgettable moments, with Miami’s 109-90 rout of Chicago and Dallas’ 112-108 win over Sacramento setting the stage for Friday’s finale, per ESPN. Herro’s sharpshooting and Dončić’s clutch play defined the night, while the Bulls and Kings exited the postseason race, per NBA.com. As Miami and Dallas gear up for Atlanta and Memphis, the SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament continues to thrill, per CBS Sports. With playoffs looming, this high-stakes action proves why the NBA’s postseason is unmatched, per Yahoo Sports. For more, visit NBA.com. Stay tuned for Friday’s showdowns, where dreams are made or broken.
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