Luka Dončić scored 26 of his 28 points in the first half as the Dallas Mavericks defeated the Sacramento Kings 132-96 on Tuesday night, marking their fifth consecutive victory.
Doncic also contributed 11 rebounds, six assists, and three steals to help the Mavericks climb to sixth place in the Western Conference, moving ahead of the Kings by one game as both teams aim to avoid the play-in tournament.
Dallas coach Jason Kidd praised the team’s cohesive play, emphasizing the importance of focusing on each possession to improve their game.
Kyrie Irving scored 24 points and provided eight assists, while Tim Hardaway Jr. chipped in with 22 points and six assists coming off the bench.
P.J. Washington recorded 14 points and a season-high 13 rebounds, expressing satisfaction with the team’s performance on both ends of the court.
Although De’Aaron Fox led the Kings with 18 points, he struggled with his shooting, making only 6 of 18 attempts. Keegan Murray contributed 17 points for Sacramento.
Domantas Sabonis narrowly missed a triple-double with 12 points, 11 rebounds, and nine assists, extending his streak of double-doubles to 55 games, tying the franchise record set by Jerry Lucas.
Doncic’s dominant performance in the second quarter helped the Mavericks establish a 58-53 lead at halftime.
Dallas seized control of the game with a decisive 22-4 run in the third quarter, extending their lead to 89-65. They maintained their dominance in the fourth quarter, winning by a margin of 39 points.
The Mavericks showcased impressive shooting, converting 55.4% of their field goal attempts and making 22 of 39 three-pointers, their best performance from beyond the arc this season.
In contrast, the Kings struggled offensively, shooting just 38.9% from the field and failing to reach 100 points for the ninth time this season.
Kings coach Mike Brown acknowledged his team’s offensive shortcomings, highlighting their inability to generate scoring opportunities, which contributed to their opponent’s easy baskets.
