The Dallas Mavericks (43-29) took on the Sacramento Kings (42-30) on Tuesday night, the first game in a two-game mini-series with substantial playoff implications. The Mavericks won 132-96 after pulling away significantly in the second half, boosting their record to 9-1 over their previous ten games.

As a consequence of the victory, the Mavericks are now the sixth seed in the Western Conference, behind the Kings 2-1 in the season series. In Friday’s rematch, Dallas must win again or risk losing the tiebreaker to Sacramento.

Luka Doncic was initially deemed a game-time decision due to left Achilles pain, but he was upgraded to available to play before taking the court to warm up. He finished the game with 28 points, 11 rebounds, six assists, and three steals.

March 26, 2024, Sacramento, California, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (77) shoots the ball.

Sergio Estrada/USA TODAY Sports

After giving up 41 points in the first quarter of Monday’s victory over the Utah Jazz, the Mavericks underlined the necessity of starting strong defensively. Sacramento was restricted to 28 points and shot 42.3% from the field in the first quarter, giving Dallas a 31-28 lead.

When Sabonis entered the game, the Kings favored a defensive strategy that included a show-and-recover tactic. This put pressure on Washington, who was frequently guarded by Sabonis, to hit catch-and-shoot 3-pointers on the fly. Washington nailed three perimeter jumpers in the opening quarter, which provided a jolt.

Doncic showed no indications of his injury in the first quarter, ending with seven points, four assists, and three rebounds. By challenging the Kings’ strategy of shrinking the floor, he aggressively attacked downhill and created opportunities for teammates. Dallas maintained great connectedness in the half-court offensively by incorporating several tactics throughout the game, such as handoff actions and double screener actions, to prevent Sacramento from stifling the Mavs’ offense with blitzing or show-and-recover techniques. Doncic and Irving’s gravitas play an important role in the strategy’s success.

Doncic’s scorching perimeter shooting and smart techniques dominated the early second quarter. He converted a ball screen into a step-back from behind the 3-point line, with Alex Len providing drop coverage. He then used a post-entry catch to set up a spin step-back, causing a lot of separation before knocking it down. With 8:53 left before halftime, Dallas lead 44-38 thanks to a run of spectacular finishes by the Slovenian sensation.

The Mavs played well defensively throughout the second period, challenging Sabonis’ push shot, effectively containing dribble penetration, and executing essential defensive rotations to close opportunities. Sacramento didn’t reach 40 points until the 5:05 mark of the frame.

Following Irving’s baseline jumper, Dallas led by eight points. Fox then scored seven straight points for the Kings while engaging in a back-and-forth with Doncic as both sides frequently traded baskets. Sacramento forced a few turnovers by blitzing in pick-and-roll defense and sending an early low-man to tag the roller. Doncic made a number of outstanding plays during this time, including a left-wing step-back three-pointer.

With the Mavericks in the bonus, Doncic aggressively drew contact to go to the foul line. In only 20 minutes before halftime, he had 26 points, seven rebounds, five assists, and three steals, and the Mavericks led the Kings 58-53. At this point, no other Dallas player had scored in double figures, but Washington came close with nine points. Fox scored 14 points, while Murray contributed 11. Sabonis was already on track for a triple-double, with nine points, eight rebounds, and six assists.

Irving provided the Mavs a significant boost coming out of halftime, scoring 10 points in the first 3:30. There was a strong emphasis on him attacking early in the shot clock. Dallas’ lead grew to 73-61 as the superstar guard hit a floater, two 3-pointers, and a driving dunk. The Mavericks’ momentum did not stop. After Doncic’s short-range pull-up, Washington’s 3-pointer, and Irving’s floater, the Mavs led by 19 points.

Throughout the game, the Kings failed to perform in the paint against the Mavs’ center alternatives, Gafford and Lively. Sabonis repeatedly stopped gazing at the rim after drawing contact and facing length on a drive, including one sequence in the third quarter that resulted in a shot clock violation. Dallas executed well defensively in the half-court, with perimeter players unable to create opportunities on rim attacks.

The Mavs created more plays pushing the offense via Doncic, knowing that double teams would come out of the post or early in the shot clock in a high pick-and-roll, giving them an advantage against a scrambling defense. After Doncic drew two fouls in the post, Exum converted a catch-and-shoot 3-pointer from the weak-side wing with one more pass. Hardaway made a shot from the corner after Lively found him on the short roll. Dallas led by 25 points late in the third quarter, but the game ended 96-76.

The Mavs led by as many as 39 points after Irving led the bench group to end the third quarter and begin the fourth. Dallas performed effectively in half-court situations, frequently playing out of various handoff settings with Irving as the focal point. Sacramento had a massive deficit that prevented a serious rallying effort. Doncic never had to enter the game again in the fourth quarter, and Irving’s night came to an end with 4:11 remaining.

Looking ahead, the Mavs will play the Kings at Golden 1 Center on Friday to wrap off the two-game mini-series and resume their five-game Western Conference road trip.

#4 Domantas Sabonis pump fakes three defenders.

Following a nice cut to the hoop and a pass directly beneath the basket, Domantas Sabonis was surrounded by three Mavericks defenders attempting to block his shot.

Sabonis, on the other hand, demonstrated his dexterity by pulling off repeated pump fakes, effectively tricking all three opponents before gently depositing the ball into the basket. His adept footwork and patience proved pivotal in securing the score despite the defensive pressure.

#3 Kyrie Irving with a two-handed jam

Kyrie Irving deftly navigated through the Kings’ perimeter defense, driving to his right and effortlessly penetrating the paint. With no opposition in sight, he elevated for a dunk without facing any defensive contest.

#2 Kyrie Irving puts the game away early

Irving initiated a transition play, dribbling the ball from the Mavericks’ half-court into Kings territory, where he encountered Alex Len switched onto him defensively. Employing a deceptive move, Irving faked a left drive with a swift crossover before smoothly executing a step-back 3-pointer.

In the subsequent play, Irving utilized a screen at the top of the key to create separation from his defender. Despite facing some defensive pressure, he confidently knocked down a semi-contested 3-pointer, effectively extending the lead to double digits and solidifying the victory for the Mavs.

#1 Luka Doncic with the tomfoolery

Luka Doncic spent most of the fourth quarter on the bench as the Mavericks maintained a comfortable double-digit lead.

However, during his time off the court, he shared a light-hearted and amusing moment with teammate Derrick Jones Jr., engaging in the viral ‘rizz’ gesture. This playful interaction even captured the attention of Mark Cuban as well.