DALLAS, TEXAS — After a milestone-filled night securing the 5th seed in the Western Conference, the Mavericks lost to the Sacramento Kings 111-99 after competing in their second to last back to back of the regular season.
Despite possessing the 5th seed the Mavericks that there is still more work to be done, and if they do happen participate in the play-in tournament the blame would fall solely on themselves. Facing a team like the Kings who has embarrassed the Mavericks in both of their outings could spell trouble.
The Kings even without a few of their marquee players were all about spoiling the Mavericks exceptional stretch of basketball. Sacramento had a collective performance from their role players and Buddy Hield was the motor that kept them going. Hield scored 9 points on 4 out of 7 shooting from the field and knocked down 3 three pointers in the process and the remainder of the team shot 71% from the field combined, which led to a 10 point 36-26 lead at the end of the quarter.
Despite the Mavericks struggles to contain the Kings offensive attack, Dwight Powell who has established himself as the energy player for the Mavericks during their stretch over the last 7 games, led the Mavericks in scoring with 8 points to finish the first quarter. The remainder of the team shot 46% from the field which highlighted the difference between the two squads. The Mavericks struggled converting from the field and the Kings made converted from an exceptional clip from the field and it was as simple as that.
The Mavericks went deep into their rotation in the second quarter and made things happen which was good enough to chip away at the Kings 61-54 lead at the end of the half. Dallas’s offense went stagnant to start the quarter only converting on one of their shot attempts. Marvin Bagley, Richaun Holmes, and Buddy Hield were responsible for the Kings lead converting on 64% of their shots from the field combined all shots coming within the heart of the Mavericks defense.
Dallas managed to score on a low 8 out of their 17 shots attempted in the second quarter and struggled shooting the three ball. Luka Doncic led all Mavericks in scoring during the second quarter with 6 points and the rest of the players scrapped to knock down 36% of their shots, but it wasn’t enough for the Mavericks to overcome the lead the Kings established through two quarters of play.
The Mavericks had a hot start to the third quarter converting on their first 3 out of 4 shots in the quarter to decrease the Kings lead to 3 points. The Kings responded by going on their own run led by Marvin Bagley III and Buddy Hield. The duo combined the score on 46% of their shots from the field and helped their team create another gap against the Mavericks, but this time it was a much bigger gap. The Kings got the best of the Mavericks at home again and led by 15 points by quarter’s end, which in all likelihood meant the Mavericks would not be able to comeback from that type of deficit.
The Mavericks bench stepped up in the fourth quarter to give them somewhat of a lift. Jalen Brunson and Boban Marjonovic scored 8 of Dallas’s first points of the fourth quarter which helped the Mavericks bring the Kings lead to 10 points. Luka Doncic’s contribution was felt as well in their efforts to take down the Kings registering his 30th point on the night with just 6 minutes remaining in the game. What helped the Mavericks stay in the game was the Kings offense turning the ball over, giving them another chance after the Mavericks cut the Kings lead to 9 points with less than 4 minutes remaining.
The Mavericks couldn’t stop the Kings offense and the Kings continued to roll paving the way to their third victory over the Mavericks during the regular season series.
All season long it has been about how well the Mavericks set the tone in the first quarter and the Mavericks reaped what they sowed again tonight losing to the Kings and allowing them to complete the regular season sweep. It’s losses like these that make the general public question the ability of the Mavericks and how far they will be able to go. Dallas may avoid playing in the play-in tournament and they may have a better playoff seeding but losses like these reveal a deeper truth, and it shows how ill-equipped the Mavericks could be against a team like this in the postseason.
