By Benedict Tagle
After a rough start to the season at home, the Dallas Mavericks are trending up. They’ve won two of their previous four games at the American Airlines Center.
The Mavericks enter their matchup with the Kings coming off a narrow, single-digit defat at home against the Charlotte Hornets. Forward Harrison Barnes led all scorers with 29 points, with four other Mavs scoring in double digits. Mavericks point guard Deron Williams dished out 13 assists, leading both teams.
Overall, the Mavericks stand at 4-16 and 3-6 on their home court. The trio of Barnes, Williams, and guard Wesley Matthews carry their efforts, leading the team in minutes per game and all sporting scoring averages in double digits. Barnes leads the Mavericks at 20.9 points per game, ranking him among the top 30 scorers in the league.
Meanwhile, Sacramento enters tonight’s matchup looking to rebound from three-consecutive losses on the road. Most recently, a furious second half comeback came up just short against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Struggles in the first half caused the team’s downfall, despite a 36 point and 12 rebound night from DeMarcus Cousins.
The Kings look for a strong start against the Mavericks to finish their five-game trip with a victory over Dallas.
Key Matchup
Rudy Gay will have his hands full on the defensive end with Barnes. The fifth-year forward is having his best season yet. With career-highs in multiple categories, he’s averaging 20.9 points and 5.8 rebounds per game. He’s showcased his new offensive freedom on multiple occasions, including six games where he’s scored 25 points or more.
Did you know?
The Mavericks have won 22 of the last 27 regular-season meetings between Dallas and Sacramento, but the Kings have won three of the last four.
Broadcast Information
The game will be televised on Comcast SportsNet California. Fans can also tune into the action on Sports 1140 KHTK Radio and the Kings + Golden 1 Center App. Follow Kings.com with live updates and postgame content on Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat and Facebook.
Next Up