SACRAMENTO -- Who are these Sacramento Kings and where were they two months ago? The Dallas Mavericks walked into Sleep Train Arena on Easter Sunday just a half game out of the eighth spot in Western Conference. They left with a loss and a bruised ego after the Kings jumped all over them for a 133-111 victory.
DeMarcus Cousins toyed with the Mavericks all night long. He posted a modest 20-point, 12-rebound, five-assist night, while setting up his teammates for easy buckets. He could have easily gone for 40 in this game, but chose to include everyone in his 28 minutes of action.
For most of the season Seth Curry has been sitting on the bench waiting for an opportunity. George Karl turned to the shooting guard on Friday night for his first career start and then again on Sunday against the Mavs. The 25-year-old guard responded with 14 points on 4-of-7 shooting from the field. Curry has earned a longer look in the final nine games.
Rajon Rondo and Darren Collison both left the Mavericks under less than ideal conditions. Both appeared to take great satisfaction in hurting the Mavericks playoff chances Sunday afternoon. Rondo scored 11 points and handed out 11 assists for his 35th double-double of the season. Collison chipped in 17 points on 7-for-11 shooting off the Kings bench.
Willie Cauley-Stein backed up his career-high 26-point performance on Friday with 21 points on 8-for-10 shooting against the Mavs. Omri Casspi added 10 points, Kosta Koufos chipped in 10 points and six rebounds and Ben McLemore dropped in 14 after missing the previous 10 games with a broken ring finger.
Eight Kings scored in double-figures, including five bench players. With the win, the Sacramento Kings have tied their win total from a season ago with nine games remaining on the schedule.
Eight Mavericks scored in double-figures as well, but their problems were on the defensive end where Sacramento torched them for 133 points on 62.2 percent shooting.
Dirk Nowitzki hit the Kings for 14 points, but he shot just 6-of-15 from the field. Raymond Felton finished the night with 15 points and five assists and J.J. Barea added 14 points as the Mavericks fell to 35-38 on the season.
STANDOUT PERFORMER:
Curry dropped 14 points on the Mavs in the third quarter as the Kings pushed their lead to a game-high 24 points. He’s made an immediate impact on the team in his first two career starts.
TURNING POINT:
The Kings led by 17 at the half and then dropped the hammer on the Mavs in the third. By the time the fourth quarter rolled around the game had long-since been decided.
INJURY UPDATE:
Marco Belinelli missed the game with a sore right foot. Ben McLemore returned to action after missing the previous 10 games with a broken ring finger.
WHAT'S NEXT:
The Kings hop a flight for Portland following Sunday’s game where they will face the Trail Blazers on Monday trying to extend their two-game win streak.
