Preview: Kings (4-8) at Mavericks (7-5)

Earl K. Sneed previews the Dallas Mavericks' home matchup against the Sacramento Kings Saturday night. The defending champs will try to extend their winning streak to five with point guard Jason Kidd expected to return after missing four games with a lower back injury.

DALLAS — Potential.

Both the Dallas Mavericks and Sacramento Kings possess plenty of potential on their talent-laden rosters. The Mavericks, however, have been to the mountaintop, looking to return there after last season’s journey to the NBA championship.

With another talented collection of veterans at his disposal, Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle will once again try to mold this season’s new-look squad into championship form. And with newcomers Vince Carter, Lamar Odom, Delonte West, Brandan Wright and Yi Jianlian all settling into their new surroundings, Carlisle admits that this season’s team is far different than the one that ended the Mavs’ 31-year championship drought, although the talent and potential remain.

"We’re going to be a very good team," Carlisle said. "We’re going to be a dangerous team. Our goal is to mold into, again, a championship team."

“We’re very capable. We know that. It’s just gonna take a little time,” Carter added. “A lot of guys are having to learn on the floor from each other and want to play well. Sometimes it’s tough, because you try so hard to fit in. … You just have to find your spots. And I think now we’re starting to understand how each individual plays, how we can play as a team and how your role fits in the offense.”

Just a night after dismantling the Milwaukee Bucks with a 102-76 win at the American Airlines Center to extend their winning streak to four, the Mavericks (7-5) return to their home hardwood. That means one more opportunity for the defending champions to continue their recent rise through the standings, before next week’s four-game road trip.

And after tying their season-high scoring output and holding the Bucks to a season-low production at the defensive end, the Mavs will bid for a fifth straight victory against the young Kings, who are in a state of transition.

“The thing I thought we did best [Friday night] was respect the opponent. The guys followed the game plan. We approached the game with tenacity, because playing back-to-back at home is an opportunity. You’ve got a chance to play two in two nights with two potential wins,” Carlisle explained.

“We expect to win these games and [Saturday night] is another game that we expect to come out and play well,” reserve guard Jason Terry added. “And if we don’t, it will be disappointing.”

Meanwhile, the Kings will try to maximize their potential on the court after the recent firing of coach Paul Westphal, replaced by Keith Smart as the head man on the Sacramento sideline.

Facing a Kings team with 2010 Rookie of the Year Tyreke Evans and second-year standout DeMarcus Cousins, the Mavericks know they’ll be tested at the defensive end of the floor. Still, Carlisle is stressing the importance of defense if the Mavs are to not only dethrone the Kings (4-8) but also hang on to the crown of champions.

Since allowing 100-plus points in the team’s first three games, the reigning titleholders have yet to allow triple digits again. Friday night represented the seventh time in the nine-game stretch since that the Mavs held an opponent under 90 points. They’ll look to continue that trend against the Kings with another strong defensive effort.

“The defensive part of the game has to be a consistent effort every time out,” Terry said, “and offensively it’s gonna come. Again, our chemistry isn’t there yet but it’s gonna get there.”

Expected to be welcoming back point guard Jason Kidd after the future Hall of Famer missed four games due to a lower back injury, the Mavericks also hope to continue their balanced offensive play.

Against the Bucks, the Mavs had five players score in double figures led by Terry’s team-high 17 points on 5-for-9 from the floor and 3-of-5 from 3-point range. Also getting a season-high 15 points and six rebounds from budding star Rodrigue Beaubois off the bench, the Dallas reserves ended the night with a 55-33 advantage in the battle of the backups, needing just 10 points from leading scorer Dirk Nowitzki in the first unit as he eclipsed 23,000 for his career.

And with Kidd expected to return and bolster the lineup, Nowitzki says that the performance from the night before — as well as last season for that matter — serves as the perfect blueprint for the team moving forward for the rest of the season.

“Ultimately we want to go where we were last year, and that’s a move-the-ball team that plays unselfish, finds the open guy and knocks some shots down,” Nowitzki concluded.

Note: Saturday night, the Mavericks return to the floor and welcome the Sacramento Kings, looking to reel off a fifth straight win. The game will air on Fox Sports Southwest at 8 p.m. CT. Tickets are still available and can be purchased by calling (214) 747-6287.

Single-game tickets are on sale and available at the American Airlines Center North Box Office, online at mavs.com, via phone by calling 214-747-MAVS or 1-800-4NBA-TIX and all Ticketmaster outlets (Fiesta Grocery Stores, Wal-Mart, Simon Mall in Garland and the Shops at Willow Bend in Plano).

Dr. Pepper Family Nights are here! Plans include four Mavs tickets and four McDonald’s extra value meals, starting at $49. Visit mavs.com or call 214-747-MAVS for a schedule of games and to purchase tickets.