The Dallas Mavericks will look to put some distance between themselves and the Sacramento Kings in the standings when they play for the second time in four days in Sacramento on Friday night. L
The Dallas Mavericks play for the second time in four days in Sacramento on Friday night, looking to put some distance between themselves and the Sacramento Kings in the standings.
Luka Doncic had 26 points, seven rebounds and five assists in the first half to help give the Mavericks the lead at halftime, Kyrie Irving scored 18 points in the second half and Dallas defeated Sacramento 132-1 on Tuesday. He won with 96.
The game tied for sixth place in the Western Conference standings, and the Kings held a 2-0 lead in the four-game season series. The Mavericks (43-29) now have a two-game lead and a chance to clinch a season series against the Kings (42-30). The Kings had won both of the season series in Dallas.
Doncic, who finished with 28 points, and Irving, who had 24 points, weren't the only pair in Tuesday's win. P.J. Washington had 14 points and 13 rebounds, Tim Hardaway Jr. had 22 points off the bench, and the center duo of Daniel Gafford and Derek Lively II had 14 points, 11 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks. Recorded.
The Mavericks held the Kings to 96 points, tied for the fifth-fewest points of the season, and shot 38.9 percent, also fifth-lowest.
“If we played basketball like this every night, it would be hard to beat us,” Washington said after the game. “As long as we're together and taking care of ourselves, we don't worry too much about other people.”
Dallas has won their fifth straight game and ninth in their last 10 games.
Meanwhile, the Kings lost for the fifth time in their last 10 home games. Not only do they have their eye on Dallas in the standings, but they also hope to stop the Los Angeles Lakers, Golden State Warriors, and Houston Rockets, but there are only three Western play-in spots available between the four teams. Only one.
On a night when the Mavericks had 34 assists to the Kings' 27, Sacramento coach Mike Brown thought the visiting team moved the ball better and helped Dallas shoot 55.4 percent from the floor.
“I have to give Dallas credit. They actually played the way we like to play,” Brown said. “They just kept the game simple. Whenever we sent a second man to the ball or they tried to drive the basketball and someone got open, they made a simple pass and The guy who caught it stepped up and took a wide open shot.”
Among the league leaders in triple-doubles this season, Doncic and Sacramento's Domantas Sabonis had to compromise to get a double-double in Tuesday's matchup. Doncic had 11 rebounds and six assists for his 43rd double-double, while Sabonis had 12 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists for his 68th double-double.
Sabonis leads the league with 25 triple-doubles. Doncic is third with 19.
