(SportsNetwork.com) – The Sacramento Kings will try and get back on track
during this road trip Tuesday night when they visit the Dallas Mavericks at
American Airlines Center.
The Kings had a five-game winning streak come to an end Sunday with a road
loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, 101-93. That was the second of a four-game
road trip which ends Thursday in Memphis.
Sacramento was playing sensational basketball, but ran into a squad that has
historically given it fits, even if this OKC incarnation was severely
undermanned.
The Thunder have won 11 straight and all 12 meetings between the two teams in
Oklahoma City.
Rudy Gay ended with 23 points, 10 rebounds, six assists and two steals for the
Kings, who had bested the LA Clippers, Phoenix Suns and Portland Trail Blazers
during their winning streak. DeMarcus Cousins and Ben McLemore each had 16
points, while Darren Collison managed 12 in the defeat.
Oklahoma City scored the first seven points of the fourth to build a 74-65
margin. After the Kings got within 87-85 with 2 1/2 minutes left, the Thunder
put the game away at the foul line by going 10-of-11.
“We dug ourselves a hole, man,” said Gay. “It’s a good learning experience for
us — no matter who we’re playing, we can’t come out playing like that.”
The Mavs kicked off a four-game homestand in disappointing fashion Sunday with
a 105-96 setback to the four-time reigning Eastern Conference champion, Miami
Heat.
Miami was led by 30 from Luol Deng, 20 and 10 assists from Dwyane Wade and 20
and 10 rebounds from Chris Bosh. The Heat shot 55.3 percent from the field and
led by 16 after three quarters.
“I’m concerned about how we’re competing as a team,” Dallas head coach Rick
Carlisle said. “We just have a problem right now from top to bottom with
consistency”
Monta Ellis paced the Mavs with 23 points and Dirk Nowitzki added 17. Tyson
Chandler deposited a 16-point, 15-rebound double-double in the setback.
Jae Crowder scored 15 points in just a shade over 12 minutes off the bench.
Jameer Nelson chipped in 11, but Chandler Parsons struggled badly with four
points on 1-for-9 shooting.
Nowitzki is now 17 points shy of Hakeem Olajuwon for ninth on the NBA’s all-
time scoring list.
The Mavericks welcome the Philadelphia 76ers and Minnesota Timberwolves on
this homestand.
The Mavs took three of four last season versus the Kings, but they’ve owned
Sacramento in recent history. Dallas is 26-4 in its last 30 against the Kings
and has won 20 straight at home in this series.
