Dante Exum nailed a crucial 3-pointer with 27.5 seconds remaining, Kyrie Irving scored 30 points, and the Dallas Mavericks secured their sixth consecutive victory with a 107-103 win over the Sacramento Kings on Friday night.
Exum’s decisive shot, assisted by P.J. Washington, extended the Mavericks’ lead to 106-103 and completed a comeback in the second half, during which they trailed by 15 points. Fourteen of Irving’s 30 points were scored in the fourth quarter, while Luka Dončić contributed 26 points for Dallas.
Harrison Barnes missed a potential game-tying 3-pointer for the Kings and then committed a backcourt violation after they grabbed the offensive rebound. Exum’s late heroics redeemed his earlier misses from beyond the arc. Despite his struggles, he received continuous support and encouragement from his teammates, especially Irving.
Exum, who rejoined the NBA after being out of the league for some time, has become an important role player for the Mavericks. He jokingly mentioned a 50% shooting rate from deep, emphasizing his positive mindset despite occasional misses.
Dallas also overcame a nine-point deficit at the beginning of the fourth quarter, orchestrating a 12-0 run to seize their first lead of the game midway through the final period.
The victory extends Dallas’s lead over the Kings in the Western Conference standings, positioning them two games ahead in the race to avoid the play-in tournament. Sacramento, meanwhile, remains in the eighth spot in the West.
Domantas Sabonis led the Kings with a triple-double of 13 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists, marking his 26th triple-double of the season. De’Aaron Fox contributed 23 points, and Barnes added 20 for Sacramento.
Despite their efforts, Kings coach Mike Brown acknowledged Dallas’s strong execution in the fourth quarter, particularly in exploiting matchups to their advantage. Both teams shot 47% from the field in the first half, with the Kings holding an early lead thanks to Barnes’s 17 points and their proficiency from beyond the arc.
The Kings will be without Kevin Huerter for the remainder of the season due to shoulder surgery, with Keon Ellis stepping into the starting lineup. Additionally, Malik Monk left the game in the first quarter due to a knee injury sustained from a collision with Doncic.
