There’s just no stopping the Kings right now. Sacramento recorded back-to-back wins for just the second time this season with a stunning 12-point victory over Oklahoma City on Monday. The Kings took advantage of Kevin Durant’s absence to upset the Western Conference powerhouse.
George Karl’s men will look to sustain the momentum of that huge win when they face the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center later tonight. Read on below for an in-depth breakdown of this NBA matchup and while you’re at it, you can check out our previews of Milwaukee vs. Chicago and New York vs. Atlanta.
[sc:NBAArticles ]Sacramento Kings vs. Dallas Mavericks Preview
Where: American Airlines Center, Dallas
When: Tuesday, January 5, 8:30 PM ET
Line: Sacramento Kings (+4.5) at Dallas Mavericks (-4.5); total: 212.5 – view all NBA lines
Betting on the Sacramento Kings (14-20)
The Sacramento Kings stretched their unbeaten run to two games with a convincing 116-104 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday night. DeMarcus Cousins led the way for the Kings, scoring 33 points and grabbing a season-high 19 rebounds. Rajon Rondo also played a huge part in Sacramento’s upset win, racking up 13 points, 19 assists and nine boards.
[sc:NBA250 ]Key to the Kings’ resurgence has been their phenomenal offense. The Kings have stepped up their offensive play of late, averaging 129 points in their last two games. That scorching offense was in full display Wednesday against the Thunder where they shot a solid 44.9 percent from the field.
They will look to replicate that hot shooting performance when they take on the Mavs later tonight. The onus is on Rondo and Cousins to carry the scoring load for Sacramento. The dynamic duo combined for 52 points in Sacramento’s first meeting with Dallas this season. The Kings defeated the Mavericks in that game, 112-98.
The Kings are 4-6 SU and 5-5 ATS in their last 10 road games.
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Betting on the Dallas Mavericks (19-15)
The Dallas Mavericks crashed to their second consecutive defeat with a gut-wrenching 105-98 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday. The Mavs had no answer for Anthony Davis, who recorded his 21st double-double of the season, scoring 31 points and grabbing 14 rebounds. It was another disappointing result for the Mavs who have yet to win since handing Golden State its second defeat this season.
The Mavs will look to get their season back on track when they face the Sacramento Kings tonight. For the Mavs to snap their losing skid this evening, they will need to improve on their play on the defensive end. The Mavs have allowed an average of 105.5 points in their last two losses.
The Mavs will need to work hard, particularly on their interior defense. The Pelicans wreaked havoc against the Dallas frontline, scoring 40 points inside the paint. That’s a major concern for head coach Rick Carlisle heading into the game against the Kings. Sacramento scored 50 points inside the shaded area in their win against Oklahoma City. The Kings are even second in the league in that department this season, averaging a whopping 48.2 points per game.
Apart from their defense, the Mavs will also need to work on their offensive execution down the stretch. The Pelicans outscored the Mavericks, 8-2, in the final two minutes of their contest. The pressure then is on Dirk Nowitzki to increase his production tonight. He scored 24 points against New Orleans, but shot just 8-of-21 from the field.
The Mavericks are 5-1 SU and ATS in their last six home games.
Writer’s Prediction
Dallas (-4.5) wins, 106-101.
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