First, the Sacramento Kings clinched the playoffs. Then they won the Pacific Division. Now they’re knocking on the 50 wins door. Unbelievable.
Enter the falling-apart Dallas Mavericks. The Mavs have been on a steady decline since the All-Star break, and suddenly find themselves fighting for a play-in spot with 3 games remaining heading into tonight’s matchup with the Kings.
But Luka Doncic is still playing. Kyrie Irving is still playing. And so long as those guys are on the floor, the Mavericks are a threat. Let’s talk about it:
The first half featured your typically stellar offensive play from the Beam Team. 17 assists to 2 turnovers, 71 efficient points, Domantas Sabonis and De’Aaron Fox cooking, Keegan Murray draining threes, etc. The result: an 11-point Kings lead heading into the 3rd quarter.
I was feeling pretty good here. I started writing this recap at halftime. I thought we were cruising to a Kings win. The Mavericks had other plans.
Dallas won the 3rd quarter 32-21 after a huge offensive run sparked by Tim Hardaway Jr. and finished off by Luka and Kyrie knocking down three after three. The Mavs had been the more efficient 3-point shooting team all night, and it was that 3-point dominance that ultimately carried them to victory.
The 4th quarter was equal parts exciting and infuriating. The Dallas crowd was into it and gave the closing moments a playoff feel. The Kings and Mavs traded entertaining shotmaking and the lead bounced back and forth, but this quickly devolved into one of those Kyrie Irving games.
Kyrie dropped 19 points on the Kings the 4th quarter alone with a healthy mix of unguardable jumpers following more unguardable jumpers – from the post, from the corner, with a hand in his face – it did not matter. Kyrie was excellent. Could the Kings have done more to stop him? Sure, maybe. But the shotmaking was really something else.
Kings lose 119 to 123.
The officiating was also atrocious. I just have to get that off my chest. Dallas earned the win and all that good sportsmanship shit, but my god some of the calls down the stretch were terrible. Kevin Huerter got poked in the eye and was called for an offensive foul + technical. The foul was reversed after a challenge, but the technical was upheld. Fox was called for a double dribble that was clearly either touched by Dallas first, or a foul on the Mavs. Take your pick.
Whatever. Dallas’ playoff dreams stay alive, and the Kings have to win their remaining two games (vs. the Warriors on Friday and at Denver on Sunday) to hit the 50-win mark. See you there.
I won’t read too much into it, because we didn’t fold after getting punched in the face, and it took video game shots by the Mavs to win by 4 at home.
That said, damn it I really wanted this win.
Well, this is just a game where Kyrie does his insane stuff, Luka being Luka and some random 3rd guy getting hot for the Mavs. If anything, this was a good showing on a SEGABABA on the road, against a well-rested, and desperate Mavs team. That’s just about it.
The Kings did their job nicely tonight and a win would’ve been lovely. But I’m not really losing sleep over this one. That’s just the way the cookie crumbles. #LTB
Been saying it for the last week, but clinch the 3 seed and it’s all good. 50 W’s is really a benchmark this team has gotten pretty close to hitting and doesn’t need to expend the energy (IMO) to get it.
Grizzlies lost, the biggest beneficiary of that is the Nuggets who don’t really need to care about winning any of their next 3 games (especially if Milwaukee comes out and crushes Memphis Friday night). I wouldn’t bet on Memphis being a lock to make it out of the 1st rd anymore than the Kings, even more so without Steven Adams or Brandon Clarke.
Lakers are down a dozen to the Clippers in the with 6+ minutes in the 3rd qtr as I write this. That’s whatever. But the Clippers face Portland Sat afternoon in LA and the Suns in Phoenix Sun afternoon. Who knows what they are thinking about any of these games?
If the Kings really want to do something to wreak havoc, they’d beat the Dubs Fri night at home and screw with their ability to stay at 5 and help the Clippers in particular to move up.
As far as the game, the refs were terrible, the Dallas broadcast is…..homers (I’m being especially kind to Mark Followill who might be the most annoying broadcaster this side of Eric Collins), and it was a rest disadvantage SEGABABA. I don’t see why the Kings went after this game, and as long as noone is hurt I’m okay. Otherwise, the Kings missed their shots in the 2nd half and that cost them the game. It’s whatever.
And so it goes.
Oh, and apparently Denver already clinched the #1 seed. So, yeah, I don’t think they’ll play anyone tomorrow night against Phoenix, possibly against Utah and very likely against the Kings in game 82.
In some good news tonight, it looks like the Lakers are going to lose to the Clippers tonight.
From what I am seeing the odds are breaking like so for 6 seed likelihood.
Clippers 17%,
Warriors 33%,
Lakers 30%
Personally now that the Likelihood the Clippers stay at 5, I hope this goes chalk. Everything comes with caveats but personally favoring a Warriors matchup over Lakers. And likely would favor that as well compared to the Clippers (although George’s injury is a caveat).
Considering the likelihood of the matchup, will be curious how both teams play tomorrow. Don’t want to show your hand too much. Would not be surprised if Brown closes up shop.
Mavs were fighting for their season and it took that plus an amazing 4th by Kyrie to save it . Kings competed great on a back to back . On to Dubs !
I sort of wish that Memphis won tonight so the Kings could just pack it in until the playoffs start. Don’t mind losing this and the difference between the 2 & 3 seed is, I think, pretty minimal.
The Kings didn’t play bad tonight, Dallas and Kyrie in particular just had one of those games that is unstoppable. It’s fun when your team has those, less so to be on the other end. Definitely not anything that predicts how future games go and Dallas had way more at stake.
And since the Lakers lost (and the Clippers won), it’s going to create an interesting scenario Fri night for the Kings. I really wish the Kings hadn’t played Fox, Sabonis or Monk, and not played Huerter or Barnes any meaningful minutes.
That’s literally my gripe. And I’ll leave it at that.
Knew it was over the second Kyrie hit that turnaround fadeaway in Davion’s eye 🥵
Yep, that was so ridiculous, I stood up and grabbed a drink.
Remember the days when last night’s game would have meant more ping pong balls for us? Yeah, I don’t miss those days. Not. One. Bit.
Ah yes, I remember it as if it was just last year.
8 vs 5 in those last couple min. Goddamn. That double dribble on Fox after getting slapped on the arm by Irving. LOL
I just want to go on record that I really despise the Mavs. They are only second to the Lake show in regards to Kings fandom hatred. I joke with my friends that I swear I never saw Michael Finlay miss a shot against us. And now this team. Both in personality, how they play, their jerseys and owner. The whole package makes for one of the worst experiences in professional basketball.
Admittedly a conspiracy theory but I think its a 50/50 shot they messed with the rim at halftime. We couldn’t buy a bucket even with space. Im joking but the amount of rim outs was genuinely strange.
The refs were terrible really for both teams. That said the Luka tech avoidance is truly embarrassing for the league. You could audibly hear him multiple times shouting to the closest ear. Besides the WCF Vlade tip out he remains the Kings biggest franchise what if, but I have to say I really hate watching him play the he’s chosen to. The same goes for Kyrie. Both’s individual production mask over just poor game management IMO. Understand I may be in the minority but seeing bad shots made is not my version of fun basketball. That teams offense is truly a disgusting display of hero ball.
Survive for another day, I look forward to seeing Luka bounce at the end of his contract. Hopefully to the eastern conference. And Irving too for that matter in free agency or post an extension because of god knows what reason.
It was disappointing to see Luka’s behavior last night. It looks like this season has drained all the fun out of him. He reminds me a bit of the Boogie Cousins we endured not so many seasons ago. Every play, every call, every non call is about him. Entitlement gone bad. My favorite highlight last night was the look De’Aaron gave Luka when he was whining about hacking him on the arm and getting whistled for it, like he didn’t do it or they shouldn’t call it and De’Aaron with the SRSLY? stare.
Kyrie is a delight when he wants to be. No attitude, no shenanigans – just ballin’ (as opposed to the force of nature that is Chris Paul – who I admire/dislike/respect/disgusted.) I heard Mark Cuban state they want to keep Kyrie for next season, but I see him moseying over to Los Angeles, and more likely Clipper than Laker. I doubt Phoenix will pull a Chris Paul trade, but who knows.
Not many teams are going to put up with the unreliability of Kyrie except the SoCal teams, IMO. He and Durant on the same time not long ago is a chuckle, when you think about it.
At this point, I am enjoying watching the Play-In/Playoff fight and beyond delighted that Sacramento can sit back above the fray. It is high drama and a lot fun, especially from afar.
Sometimes you just have to step back from the pain of Irving repeatedly knifing your team in the gut, and just appreciate how damned good he is.*
*When he’s healthy and actually feels like playing
Yeah, he really is amazingly good. The best handle in the NBA IMOP. And he’s clutch as well. I like watching him play.
Put another way –
Badge Legend