We expected an offensive festival between two of the best attacks in the NBA, and there was no shortage of it: Mavericks (123.5 points per game, 2nd in the league) and Kings (115.9 points per game, 8th in the league) compiled 242 points, and these are the teammates of Domantas Sabonis (32 points, 13 rebounds and 6 assists) and De’Aaron Fox (30 points, 4 rebounds, 7 assists and 3 interceptions) who ultimately emerged victorious from this shock (129-113).
Back-to-back, and in front of their audience, the Dallas players held on for two and a half quarters, before losing their footing in the final minutes of the third act, then throughout the fourth. The fault of a defense that was too crumbly in the face of the very dense attack of Sacramento (six players with 12 points or more, 53% on shots), but also an attack that is far too dependent on Luka Doncic (25 points, 10 rebounds, 7 assists and 3 steals) and Kyrie Irving (23 points).
The difference was particularly evident in the outside shooting sector: 17 shots scored by the Kings, compared to 12 shots for the Mavericks. A differential of 15 points, therefore, which we find in the final score (16 points difference)…
What you must remember
– “Swipa” and “Domas” well surrounded. If the American leader and the Lithuanian pivot are obviously the major architects of the Kings’ victory, we must also highlight the contribution of their teammates, whose volume of play proved just as valuable: 12 points, 4 rebounds and 6 assists for Harrison Barnes, 17 points, 3 rebounds and 4 assists for Keegan Murray, but also 13 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 interceptions for Chris Duarte and 12 points, 2 rebounds and 3 assists for Malik Monk. Mike Brown’s troupe delivered a complete collective performance.
– A symbolic match of opposing dynamics. Victorious for the sixth time in a row, the Kings overtake the Mavericks, who were defeated for the second time in a row, in the Western Conference standings. In this way, this match embodies the current opposing dynamics of the two clubs: Sacramento is gaining strength after a slump of a few matches at the beginning of the month, while on the contrary Dallas is losing a little of its splendor after a thunderous start to the campaign.
How to read the stats? Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; O = offensive rebound; D=defensive rebound; T = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; +/- = Point differential when the player is on the field; Pts = Points; Eval: player evaluation calculated from positive actions – negative actions.
