De’Aaron Fox led the Sacramento Kings with 33 points in a 110-100 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Monday night. The win, marking interim coach Doug Christie’s first at the helm, snapped the Kings’ six-game losing streak.
Sacramento overcame an 18-point first-quarter deficit, thanks to a 17-2 run late in the third quarter that gave them an 83-77 lead. The Kings continued their momentum with an 11-4 burst to start the fourth quarter, capped by a Trey Lyles three-pointer that pushed the lead to double digits.
Lyles contributed 14 points off the bench, while Domantas Sabonis recorded a double-double with 17 points and 17 assists. DeMar DeRozan added 14 points to help secure the much-needed victory.
The Mavericks, playing without key players Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving, Klay Thompson, and Dereck Lively II, were led by Spencer Dinwiddie and P.J. Washington. Dinwiddie scored 30 points, and Washington tallied 28, both achieving season highs.
Dallas built a commanding lead in the opening quarter, but Sacramento cut the deficit to 60-56 by halftime. The Kings then turned the game around in the second half, holding the Mavericks to just 40 points after allowing the Lakers to shoot 60% from the field in their previous outing.
The Mavericks kept the game competitive despite missing their top three scorers. However, their depleted roster struggled to maintain the early lead as the game progressed.
Sacramento, now 14-19, looks to build on this win under Christie’s leadership after parting ways with Mike Brown last week. The Mavericks, who fell to 20-13, will hope to regain health as they navigate a challenging stretch without Doncic.
