The Sacramento Kings and Dallas Mavericks faced off on Tuesday night, and the Mavericks embarrassed the Kings in Sacramento, winning 132-96. This one has two talented teams vying for playoff position, as the Mavericks (6th place) sit just one game above the Kings (8th place) with the Phoenix Suns sandwiched between them.
The Kings are trying to avoid the play-in tournament because they don't want to take a chance on an early elimination before the first round of the playoffs. In Tuesday's match, Luka Doncic, kyrie irvingand tim hardaway jr. He led Dallas' offense with 74 points and 20 assists, but no one seemed to want to step up in Sacramento.
The Kings lead the season series against the Mavericks 2-1, with both wins coming in Dallas. After suffering a blowout loss at home on Tuesday, Sacramento will have to bounce back to defend its home court on Friday.
Prior to Friday's matchup, each team released their injury reports.
Sacramento Kings:
Kevin Harter – OUT (Shoulder)
Trey Lyles – OUT (knee)
Sasha Vezenkov – Questionable (ankle)
Dallas Mavericks:
Luka Doncic – Doubt (Achilles)
Josh Green – OUT (Ankle)
Maxi Kleber – OUT (knee)
Doncic was given “questionable” status ahead of Friday's game, and the Kings could gain a significant advantage if the Dallas superstar is out. Sacramento will continue to be without Lyles and Welter, both of whom are dealing with long-term injuries, while Bezenkov is questionable to return after missing 28 of the past 30 games with multiple ankle injuries.
Doncic played in Tuesday's matchup despite being listed as “questionable,” so Kings fans shouldn't get too excited at the idea of the league's leading scorer missing Friday's game. If the Kings lose yet another time to the Mavericks, their goal of making it out of the play-in tournament will start to slip away. Sacramento still has 10 games left, but Friday's matchup is a must-win.
The showdown between the Kings and Mavericks will be broadcast on NBA TV at 7pm PT.
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