Dallas, March 6 (BUS): Dorian Finney-Smith scored 3 pointers from the right corner 3.3 seconds from the left and the Dallas Mavericks, who played without All-Star goalkeeper Luka Doncic, scored 19 points for the second time. This week to beat the Sacramento Kings 114-113 on Saturday.
Doncic was listed on the injury report as having a sprained left toe, and coach Jason Kidd did not elaborate on the injury details. It was the first game Doncic had missed since January 7 and the 16th game overall, according to the Associated Press.
Spencer Dinwiddie scored a season-high 36 points to rack up seven assists on his first start with Dallas since picking it up from Washington on February 10. Galen Bronson added 23 points and assists in the winning basket, passing from behind the basket to Vinnie-Smith for a 114-111 lead.
“We want Luca to play, and it took a while for us to get used to him not being on the floor,” Kidd said. “I thought the guys get on their legs and get their rhythm up without Luca being there. It helps us – makes us a better team – but hopefully Luca will be back on Monday.”
The Kings had a chance to equalize in the final seconds, but Harrison Barnes’ 30-footer went off the edge and Justin Holiday turned the foul into a corner kick for the final points.
Dallas slipped by 19 at Golden State last Sunday before rallying to win 107-101. The Mavericks won five times in a row and pulled out in one game with fourth-placed Utah in the Western Conference.
De’Aaron Fox had a career high with 44 points from 18 to 31, and Domantas Sabonis added 15 points and 10 rebounds – but only four points and three rebounds in the second half while often guarded by Vinnie Smith – kings.
“I think we’ve done a good job so far,” Fox said of establishing Alchemy with Sabonis, which was acquired on February 8 from Indiana. “I think we have good ways to go, and we just want to take our team’s wins.”
Interim Kings coach Alvin Gentry was upset with some of Fox’s other numbers.
“As much as Dearon Fox is driving the ball into the basket and as much as it is in the paint, I am a little annoyed about how he does not shoot free throws,” Gentry said.
Fox hit the second of two free throws to equalize at 111 with 12 seconds to play, and Dallas called into a timeout. Vinnie Smith asked Kidd if he could stand in the right corner. Bronson took the inside pass and, guarded by Davion Mitchell, drove to the basket before hitting the ball to Vinnie Smith.
Dinwiddie averaged 14.5 points in 27.3 minutes in his first six Mavericks games off the bench. He was 8-12 from the ground in the second half and overall scored at least 20 points in three of his last four games.
party continues
The Mavericks hosted Slovenia Night in honor of Doncic’s homeland and the match was scheduled for 4pm in conjunction with European TV. The first 3,000 fans received a scarf from Slovenia, and a group of fans traveled from there to attend the match.
Doncic watched the match from the end of the bench and then met the visiting Slovenes. He came to the scorers’ table once in the first half to chat with officials during a break after the Dallas bench was particularly upset by multiple calls.
Sixteen is not sweet
With the loss, the Kings would end with a losing record for the 16th consecutive season. Of Sacramento’s 37 seasons, they only had eight wins under Rick Adelman (1998-99 through 2005-2006).
Hints:
Kings: Richawn Holmes is back after missing five games due to back pain. Holmes scored six points and six rebounds in 16 minutes. …guard Jeremy Lamb sat with a sore left thigh.
Mavericks: Vinnie-Smith scored 17 points, scoring 5 of 11 from a 3-point range. … Dallas came in second in the NBA, allowing only 10.8 three-pointers per game and keeping Sacramento in ninth, three in the second half. … Powerful striker Maxi Kleiber missed his second game in a row with an ankle injury.
next one
Kings: Host New York Monday Night.
Mavericks: Host jazz on Monday night.