Kings-Mavericks Preview

By ALAN FERGUSON
Posted Dec 09 2012 5:47PM

The Sacramento Kings managed to keep their momentum going when they headed out on the road, but history doesn't appear to be on their side as they try for a fourth consecutive victory.

To keep their win streak going, the Kings will have to snap a lengthy skid in Dallas on Monday night and deny the Mavericks a season high-tying third straight victory.

Sacramento (7-12) became the last Western Conference team to earn a road win Saturday despite the absence of starting guard Tyreke Evans. John Salmons had season highs of 19 points and 11 assists in a 99-80 victory over Portland and DeMarcus Cousins recorded his third straight double-double with 19 points and 12 rebounds.

"It feels good," Salmons said. "Especially coming off two home wins, to go on the road and get that third win. Hopefully, we can continue doing that."

The turning point for the Kings, Salmons said, was a 116-81 loss at the Los Angeles Clippers on Dec. 1. Since then, the team is averaging 99.0 points - 5.4 more than in its first 16 contests - and it allowed fewer than 83 in each of its last two games.

"We took a step back and we all took a look at ourselves in the mirror," Salmons said. "I feel like we all know we have to play together to win games."

The Kings, who opened a four-game trip Saturday, haven't won back-to-back road games since March 2011, also the last time they had a four-game overall winning streak.

The prospects of ending those droughts don't appear promising as they've lost 16 straight in Dallas during the regular season, the NBA's third-longest active road losing streak versus one opponent. Sacramento's most recent win there was part of its last playoff series victory in 2004.

Including the postseason, the Kings have dropped 20 of 21 in Dallas, but they earned their lone win in the last 12 overall meetings March 9 at home. With 17 points, Evans was one of seven Sacramento players in double figures in that 110-97 victory, but he's questionable for this game after missing four of the past five contests with a sore knee.

The Kings could use Evans against a Mavericks team that's playing better following a 1-4 stretch. Dallas is returning home after finishing a three-game road trip with back-to-back wins, rallying for a 116-109 victory over Houston on Saturday.

O.J. Mayo scored 10 of his career high-tying 40 points in the final three minutes, and Chris Kaman had 20 despite a badly bruised left ankle.

"With guys down ... and hurting a little bit, guys came and battled tonight," Kaman said. "O.J. played an unbelievable game for us."

Mayo has scored 20 points or more 11 times this season to help the Mavericks (10-10) stay afloat without perennial scoring leader Dirk Nowitzki, who is recovering from knee surgery.

"What (Mayo is) showing over the first 20 games is that he has the ability to carry a team at times," coach Rick Carlisle said. "It was really impressive (Saturday). He's shown a strong-willed mentality and is really hungry to win."

Shawn Marion missed Saturday's win with a strained right groin and his status is unclear.

Mavericks win 17th straight at home against Kings

By DAVID JIMENEZ
Posted Dec 11 2012 12:31AM

DALLAS (AP) Dallas relied on defense to build a massive lead and extend its recent home dominance against Sacramento.

O.J. Mayo scored 19 points and the Mavericks took control with a 31-3 run in the first half to win their 17th straight regular-season home game against Sacramento with a 119-96 victory over the Kings on Monday night.

The Mavericks held the Kings without a field goal during the game-turning run. Sacramento missed 12 straight shots and committed nine turnovers in a span of nearly 11 minutes.

"Some of it was them missing," Dallas coach Rick Carlisle said. "But we were moving our feet. We were in position and we were scrambling. So that made a lot of good things happen for us offensively."

Dallas (11-10) picked up its third win a row to go over .500 for the first time since Nov. 21.

After tight wins over Phoenix and Houston, the Mavericks built a 28-point lead in the second quarter and led by double digits the entire second half.

"We're playing good basketball right now," Mayo said. "But now we've got to take it on the road with us and continue playing hard. We need to continue playing with effort and energy."

Francisco Garcia, who was 7 of 12 from 3-point range, and DeMarcus Cousins scored 25 points apiece for the Kings, who haven't won in Dallas during the regular season since Feb. 27, 2003. Jason Thompson added 11 points and 12 rebounds.

The Kings had their three-game winning streak snapped and allowed a season high in points.

"There was just nothing that we could establish," Kings coach Keith Smart said. "They kind of took us out of what we can do."

Dallas starting forward Shawn Marion missed his second straight game with a strained right groin.

Chris Kaman, playing 21 minutes on a sprained left ankle which Carlisle described as "a glowing purple" before the game, scored 16 of his 18 points in the first half and reserve Darren Collison added 15 points for the Mavericks.

"Kaman has been great," Dallas forward Elton Brand said. "We need him to continue playing like that for us to continue to win."

Mayo hit a jumper late in the first quarter to kick off the game-turning run for the Mavs, who were up 65-43 at halftime.

Sacramento, which picked up its first road win of the season Saturday at Portland, opened the game by hitting 5 of 6 from 3-point range. The Kings took a 28-27 lead with 2:26 remaining in the first quarter on Thompson's tip-in basket.

But the Kings didn't score from the floor again until Thompson's basket broke the drought with 3:34 left in the first half. Sacramento went 10:52 without a field goal.

Mayo started the run with a 20-footer and Vince Carter closed the opening quarter with a steal and dunk that gave the Mavericks a 36-29 lead. Brandan Wright capped the big spurt with a dunk, putting the Mavericks up 58-31.

The Kings hit 9 of 13 shots to open the second half and went on a 23-12 run, cutting the deficit to 77-66 on Garcia's 3-pointer. Garcia started in place of an injured Tyreke Evans, who missed his third straight with a sore left knee.

The Mavericks closed the third with an 11-4 spurt and Mayo's 3-pointer with 26.7 seconds left made it 88-70.

Dallas stretched its advantage to as much as 26 in the fourth, and Sacramento got no closer than 17 in the final 12 minutes.

NOTES: Dallas F Dirk Nowitzki received the Naismith Legacy Award at halftime. The award goes to players or coaches who further the values of the sport. Nowitzki is the first international player to receive the honor. . The Kings haven't had a four-game winning streak since March 23-29, 2011. . Sacramento has won two playoff games in Dallas since last beating the Mavericks on the road in the regular season. The Kings won in Dallas during the 2003 conference semifinals and again in a 2004 first-round matchup.

Notebook: Mavericks 119, Kings 96

Dave Ivey, for NBA.com
Posted Tue Dec 11, 2012 2:20 AM - Updated Tue Dec 11, 2012 2:20 AM

THE FACTS: O.J. Mayo led six Dallas players in double figures with 19 points and the Mavericks played some of their stingiest defense of the season Monday, stifling Sacramento for a long stretch of the first half in a 119-96 victory at the American Airlines Center. Chris Kaman added 18 points as Dallas (11-10) notched its third straight win to climb back over .500. DeMarcus Cousins and Francisco Garcia scored 25 each for the Kings (7-13), who had won three straight.

The Mavericks scored 32 points off 20 turnovers, doing much of that damage during a drought that saw the Kings go nearly 11 minutes without a field goal. Jason Thompson had a tip-in with 2:26 left in the first quarter and Sacramento didn't get another field goal until Thompson's hook shot with 3:33 remaining in the half. Thompson finished with 11 points and 12 rebounds.

QUOTABLE: "We found toughness. We found grit. We found Derek Fisher. We've won four out of five with him."

-- Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle on his starting point guard, who had 11 points, six assists and zero turnovers.

THE STAT: Sacramento dropped its 17th consecutive regular-season game in Dallas, the third-longest active streak in the NBA. The Kings' last road win against the Mavericks was on Feb. 27, 2003.

TURNING POINT: The Mavericks broke open a 29-29 tie with a 29-2 run spanning the first and second quarters. The Kings missed 12 straight shots and committed eight turnovers during that stretch.

QUOTABLE II: "I think defensively we need to cover each other's back, especially on the road. We really need to work on that and I think we can fix that."

-- Kings' Francisco Garcia

HOT: Kaman and Mayo combined for 32 points (16 each) on 13-for-16 shooting in the first half.

NOT: Sacramento shot 25 percent (4-for-16) from the field and scored only 14 points in the second quarter.

BAD MOVE: Cousins could be facing a fine from the league office after delivering a below-the-belt punch to Mayo in the second quarter.

FANTASY SPOTLIGHT: Following up his 40-point game Saturday at Houston, Mayo led Dallas in points and rebounds (seven) and added four assists. He was 3-for-4 from 3-point distance. Things were going so well for Mayo that he pulled up for a 3-pointer when the Mavericks had a 4-on-1 fastbreak late in the third quarter -- and swished it.

INSIDE THE ARENA: Dallas forward Dirk Nowitzki received the Naismith Legacy Award at halftime. Jim Naismith, grandson of basketball inventor Dr. James Naismith, presented the award, which honors players, coaches and other individuals or organizations for their role in furthering the values of honor, respect and integrity, on and off the court.

ROOKIE WATCH: Mavericks forward Jae Crowder hit all four of his field-goal attempts in the fourth quarter to reach double figures for the first time since Nov. 24. He added four rebounds, four assists and two steals. ... Kings forward Thomas Robinson was 0-for-4 with two turnovers.

NOTABLE: Forward Shawn Marion (strained right groin) and guard Dominique Jones (illness) did not play for the Mavericks and Kings guard Tyreke Evans (sore left knee) missed his third straight game. ... Dallas set a season high for first-half points with 65. ... Dallas is 10-1 when shooting 45 percent or better from the field this season (55.2 percent). ... The Mavericks are 10-1 when holding the lead entering the fourth quarter, including 7-0 at home. ... Garcia set a career high with seven 3-pointers (7-for-12). He twice made six in a game. ... Through the first three quarters, the Kings' reserves were 0-for-11 from the field and were outscored 24-2 by the Dallas bench. ... Dallas is 8-1 when scoring 100-plus.

UP NEXT: For the Mavericks, Wednesday @ Boston, Friday @ Toronto, Saturday @ Minnesota. For the Kings, Wednesday @ Milwaukee, Friday @ Oklahoma City, Sunday vs. Denver.

• Kings: Honeycutt
• Mavericks: Marion, Nowitzki

• Kings: Cousins, Thompson
• Mavericks: Mayo

• Lead Changes: 4
• Times Tied: 1

• Arena: American Airlines Center, Dallas, TX
• Officials: #13 Monty McCutchen, #35 Kane Fitzgerald, #68 Marat Kogut
• Attendance: 19737
• Duration: 2:06