Recap: Kings 60 at Mavericks 99

Earl K. Sneed recaps the Dallas Mavericks' home win over the slumping Sacramento Kings Saturday night. The defending champs extended their overall winning streak to five and won their sixth straight at home as point guard Jason Kidd returned after missing four games due to a lower back injury.

DALLAS — Before even stepping on the court and attempting to run their four-game winning streak to five Saturday night against the Sacramento Kings, the defending NBA champion Dallas Mavericks received some good news.

After reeling off four wins without point guard Jason Kidd in the lineup, the Mavericks learned the future Hall of Famer would indeed return from his hiatus due to a lower back injury. Mavericks owner Mark Cuban also announced that last season’s squad would properly be honored with a championship ring ceremony when former backup point guard J.J. Barea returns to Dallas with his Minnesota Timberwolves team on Jan. 25.

The good news was a sign of things to come.

With Kidd back in the lineup the Mavericks continued their winning ways, holding the Kings to a new franchise record low for points allowed and lowest shooting percentage, breaking marks held by Minnesota on Feb. 27, 2007. And with a four-game road trip looming, the Mavericks (8-5) snatched their fifth straight victory after a blowout 99-60 win.

“If we can continue to play defense like we did tonight then we’ve got a chance,” Kidd said when breaking down the win.

With the breaking news behind them, the reigning champs welcomed in the Sacramento squad, which is trying to rebuild after the firing of coach Paul Westphal. And with a chance to build off Friday night’s 102-76 home win over Milwaukee before venturing out on their upcoming road trip, the Mavericks recognized that they would have to seize the opportunity.

The good news would keep coming early in the opening quarter with the Mavs beginning the game on an 8-0 run while Sacramento missed on its first eight shots, although both teams were playing their fourth game in five nights. The visitors would settle down, however, climbing back into the game slowly.

After the Kings (4-9) crept within two, though, reserve guard Jason Terry began to go to work along with the Mavs’ second unit. A highlight reel alley-oop connection from Lamar Odom to Ian Mahinmi then put an empathic close on a 17-3 Dallas run the final 5:58 of the opening quarter, with the Kings missing 10 straight shots to end the first 12 minutes of play with the Mavs up 27-11.

The Mavs’ veteran All-Stars then began to assert themselves in the second stanza with leading scorer Dirk Nowitzki and forward Shawn Marion taking over the scoring duties in the midst of a 17-2 Dallas run. And with the Mavs’ advantage peaking at 29, the defending champs headed into the locker room with a favorable 52-23 margin at the midway mark.

“I thought our energy for the fourth game in five nights was great,” Nowitzki said. “Our defense was really solid from the beginning, really rotating for each other, trying to contest shots, really trying to battle out there and it really set a tone.”

Surrendering an all-time franchise record scoring low for an opponent in any half, surpassing the 24 points Vancouver scored on March 13, 1999, the Mavericks easily jumped out to the big advantage behind 13 points from Terry and 12 points from Nowitzki on a combined 10-of-16 shooting. The Mavericks also outshot the Kings, 52.4 percent to 17.4 percent, while holding a 31-24 rebounding edge as well.

“We’re doing better things defensively and we were good defensively in the first half,” Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle said. “They had some struggles, their shot making wasn’t great, but I thought we had something to do with that. We’re placing our major emphasis on energy, defense and rebounding.”

“It was a great performance again defensively,” Terry added. “It’s what we’re hanging our hat on so far this season. It was our key to success last year and guys have bought into the system and it’s paid off.”

The scoring came at a slow pace in the third period for both teams with a two-handed slam from newcomer Yi Jianlian one of a few offensive bright spots for the Mavs. Three-point makes from Kidd and Carter also boosted the stagnant Dallas attack as the team still emerged with a 72-45 lead entering the fourth.

A thunderous and vintage dunk from Carter early in the fourth would be all the Mavs would need the rest of the way. With Kidd and the Mavs’ starters resting for the night, the reserves put their mark on the game once again, upping the lead to as much as 39 before the clock hit all zeroes.

Dallas was led by Terry’s 21 points off the bench on 8-of-13 shooting and Carter’s 16 points of his own in the second unit.

“We were engaged from the tip and that was just a good sign,” Carter said.

Nowitzki finished with 14 points on 6-of-14 shooting and Marion was the only other Maverick in double figures with 10 points to help the team notched a fifth straight W.

Playing 29 minutes in his return, Kidd totaled five points, three rebounds, six assists and six steals.

“[Kidd] looked good to me. I thought he moved well and he had good balance. The two shots he took went in. His presence on the floor is irreplaceable,” Carlisle said of his floor general.

“I took two shots, they both went in, so no rust,” Kidd joked.

Marcus Thornton led the Kings with 14 points while DeMarcus Cousins racked up 12 points and 10 rebounds. But the Mavericks outshot the Kings, 45.7 percent to 25.6 percent, and outrebounded their opponent, 59-50. Dallas also finished with a 68-20 advantage in bench scoring.

“When you have three guys [Terry, Carter and Odom] that could possibly be All-Stars coming off the bench, you should dominate. Our chemistry on the offensive end is not where we want it to be, but defensively if we just compete and put out that extra effort every night on the defensive end, we’re going to be in a lot of ball games and win our fair share,” Terry said.

Now, the Mavs head back out on the road with stops in Los Angeles (for two games against the Lakers and Clippers), Utah and New Orleans for four matchups against quality teams.

“We’re on an uptick right now and we’ve got to keep it going because the schedule is getting tougher this week,” Carlisle said while looking ahead.

Note: The Mavericks begin their four-game road trip Monday night in Los Angeles against the Lakers, the team Dallas swept in the second round of last year’s championship run. That game will tip off at 9:30 p.m. CT, airing nationally on TNT.

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.