Last night was a good night for the Sacramento Kings. A convincing win that wasn’t as close as the final score suggests, winning the first game back home after a long road trip, beating an inferior team missing a star, last night really checked off a lot of boxes for the Kings and helped them move past some bad trends from earlier in the season. The Kings have been playing great lately and have won 7 of their last 10. Their reward? A critical matchup against the Dallas Mavericks. Both teams stand at 42-29 records. The Kings play them tonight, and then again on Friday. The Kings hold a 2-0 lead on the Mavericks this season. A win tonight secures the tiebreak advantage, and would move the Kings a game ahead of the Mavericks in the dogfight for the six seed.
Let’s talk Kings basketball!
When: Tuesday, March 26th, 7:00 PM PT
Where: Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, CA
TV: TNT
Radio: Sactown Sports 1140
Last Time
The Kings beat the Mavericks for the second time in Dallas back on January 27th, 120-115 behind 34 points from De’Aaron Fox. Keegan Murray scored 15 points but it was his stellar defensive effort on Luka Doncic that changed the game. Doncic had a monster triple-double with 28 points, 17 assists and 10 rebounds but shot just 9-26 from the field a game after scoring 73 points.
Three in the Key
No excuses: The Kings are on the second night of a back to back. So are the Mavericks, who beat the Utah Jazz last night. Luka Doncic played 41 minutes, Kyrie Irving played 36. The Jazz lost the game, but they pushed the Mavs into playing all their starters heavy minutes. Both teams come into this game tired, but the Kings are at home and didn’t travel last night. No excuses, just take care of business.
Bring on the Bench Mob: One of the keys to the Mavericks late-season success has been their newfound depth. The Mavs spent most of the early season riddled with injuries. Well, the Mavs got healthy, and added some depth at the trade deadline. The Mavs still tend to only go as far as Luka and Kyrie can carry them, but they do at least have some help now. As the Kings now are dealing with their own injuries, Sacramento will need their bench to step up. They did great last night against the 76ers, especially Alex Len and Davion Mitchell.
Mr. Monk and the Missing Threes: Is it cheating to discuss Malik Monk separately from the rest of the bench? Probably, but I’m going to do it anyway. Malik has had a rough couple of games. After an 0fer against the Magic, the Sixers held Monk to just 11 points last night. Monk was 0-for-5 from three. But the best thing about the Kings 6th Man of the Year candidate is that I’m not worried. I’m simply waiting for him to go off again. Tonight would be a great night to do it.
Prediction
De’Aaron Fox paints a masterpiece from the midrange, Domantas Sabonis casually drops another double-double, and Monk breaks out for a 40-piece.
Kings 115, Mavericks 106
Fan Predictions
Link to Leaderboard (Updated 2/21/24)
Would be great to win tonight and Friday, considering we’re tied with Dallas at the moment. Need to give ourselves as much cushion as possible before that brutal four-game road trip.
But at the VERY minimum, the Kings need to split 1-1 with Dallas if they want to have the head-to-head tiebreaker.
Would be nice to get some separation from that 7th seed. Stay away from the play-in.
Drivers seat if they win them both. I am expecting a split.
That Phoenix game in a few weeks could determine the play-in’er vs the play-off’er.
Our fifth game in the space of a week
Makes it harder to be at our peak.
With both teams back-to-back,
Good this one’s in Sac.
Beat the Mavs; hold the spot that we seek!
+1 Get this win so we can go for 4 of a kind!
Let’s hope Sacramento can be the Top Gun
The Kings will be tired playing their 5th game in the last 7 days, but they have been playing like a more inspired team lately. Lets hope that inspiration can drive the tired legs! At least the Mavs should also be tired after traveling for the 2nd night of a back to back.
maybe they’ll be like fatigued boxers hugging each other
It will be interesting to see how each team does.
This is THE game of the season, folks. Suns are running the gauntlet and gonna end up in the play-in. Whichever team can assert dominance over the other in these next 2 games are probably getting a playoff berth. Kings must split AT LEAST. But the playing field is level, and the Kings are at home. Time to prove their superiority.
Dallas has an easier remaining schedule. Would be really great if we can win both. Give us an effective 3 game lead with 9 remaining.
I believe they play Houston two times. Houston will not be easy.
Yeah, but they also get Detroit, Charlotte, Atlanta and GS twice
Especially since they are trying for that 10 spot
Game of the year, right here.
Keegan on Luka, OffNight and KeOnNight (Ion and Eon?) on Kyrie. But what’s helped Jason Kidd’s Mavs is the expanded depth. Dwight Powell went from starter to 3rd option. Dante Exum became a three point threat. Derek Lively and Daniel Gafford might miss one dunk combined for the game. PJ Washington, Josh Green are two way players that I wouldn’t mind seeing on the Kings. and Tim Hardaway Jr. is always ready to score. Maxi Kleiber – same. I still feel disappointment that Jaden Harvey was a second round steal that Sac gave away. (Olivier Maxence Prosper – not so much).
This is a strong head to head match up for the Kings. On paper – the Dallas stars (Luka and Kyrie) have a distinct edge over Ox and Fox. Their front court is formidable and longer, faster and bouncier than Sabonis and Alex Len.
I am looking forward to a fun contest, that I hope has me beamin’. I’d be fibbin’ if I said I wasn’t worried.
Ruh oh. The Mavericks figured out our achilles heel! 😉
I really don’t understand that Sasha was taken off the injured list only to be listed as questionable for weeks.
that’s a funny line
4 games tonight.
Go Bucks!
Go Heat!
Go Thunder!
Go Kings!
Playoffs start tonight! Hoping for a great game.
yes, 2 game playoff series.
I’d like to point out that Boston blew a 30 point lead to ATL and PHX lost to the Spurs missing their best player last night.
It’s not just us!
win with the 3 lose with the 3 . Todays NBA
Crazy thought: if all three of these teams repeat their record from the last 10-game stretch over the next 10, we’ll suddenly be looking at 5. Mavs, 6. Kings, 7. Clips
Hoping for Kings to finish at least 7-3 in the last 10. That should be good for at least 6.
Bucks imploding late. Five straight misses.
Badge Legend