Despite De’Aaron Fox and Hassan Whiteside being sidelined, the Sacramento Kings brought it to the Dallas Mavericks last night, winning 113-106 at home.
After beating the Los Angeles Lakers twice in a row, this loss makes it difficult to get a grip on this Mavericks team. One night, they’re pounding the defending champs, and the next they’re getting wiped out by short-handed Sacramento.
The Mavs simply do not know how to get out of the gates. I don’t know if it has to do with how the team is warming up, or maybe they haven’t adjusted used to the compressed schedule that is this season. Something needs to be sorted in the pre-game. Or else the Mavs will lose by 20+ every night in the playoffs.
The Kings started the game on a 20-3 run. Led by rookie stud, Tyrese Haliburton, and the underrated center, Richaun Holmes, the Kings played with loads of energy all night. They shot 52/45/89 as a team, while the Mavs struggled from three, only hitting 29% from behind the arc.
Star of the Game
Dallas couldn’t handle Richaun Holmes last night. The big man put up 24 points on 9/12 shooting, 6/6 on free throws, along with 6 rebounds and 2 blocks. While the numbers don’t exactly express dominance, Holmes’ presence in the paint, and hustle are stats that don’t show up on the stat sheet, but play a huge role in winning.
The Kings are a fun team to watch, I see them as the Charlotte Hornets of the West. Teams like the Mavs should be taking advantage of a young and inexperienced team like this while they can. Because Sacramento is on the right path to becoming a respectable ball club in the NBA.
Biggest Concern
It’s obvious. Dallas doesn’t know how to start a game.
The Mavs know they struggle early, but it is up to only them to figure out how to deal with this handicap they’ve placed on themselves. It takes so much energy out of a team to fight and claw back into a game they should be leading at the get-go.
With another game tonight against the run-and-gun Golden State Warriors, I wouldn’t be surprised if this team looked sluggish to start tonight too.
Surprise Contribution
Trey Burke was the Mavs’ only hope in coming back in this game. He had a scorching 2nd quarter, that helped Dallas cut the lead to 7 at the half. Burke ended the night with 19 points, 5 assists, and 2 steals off the bench.
Observations
The entire Mavs bench were + last night (+47 combined), while all 5 starters were a double-digit negative (-82 combined). Hmmmm…..
The Kings broadcast team brought up Jalen Brunson becoming a free agent at the end of the season at least 4 times from what I heard. I found it annoying because one, there’s no way Sacramento is signing him. And two, Dallas would be so stupid not to pay him immediately, if not sooner.
Next Game
Tonight @ Golden State Warriors, 8:30pm CT on TNT
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MAVS FALL TO THE KINGS MAVS FALL TO THE KINGS MAVS FALL TO THE KINGS
