PREVIEW
MAVS (25-15) AT KINGS (15-25)
Time: 9 p.m. CT
Place: Golden 1 Center, Sacramento
TV: FSSW
Radio: ESPN 103.3 FM; Univision 1270 AM (Spanish)
About the Mavs: This is the midway point of the season game for the Mavs, who were 19-22 at the midway point of last season. . .This also is the finale of a two-game trip before the Mavs head home to entertain the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday night at 8:30 CT. . .Power forward Kristaps Porzingis may possibly play tonight. Porzingis has sat out the last eight games with either a sore right knee and/or an illness. The Mavs are 4-4 in Porzingis’ absence. . .The Mavs opened this trip Tuesday night with a 124-97 victory over the Golden State Warriors. Dwight Powell scored a game-high 21 points on 9-of-9 field goals in that game, Luka Doncic added 20 points and eight boards, and Boban Marjanovic came off the bench to contribute 13 points and 11 rebounds in 20 minutes. . .Powell has been on a tear lately and is averaging 15 ppg and 7.3 rpg over the last six games. . .The Mavs are 3-2 on the second night of a back-to-back. That includes a 110-106 loss at home to the Kings on Dec. 8. Tim Hardaway Jr. (29 points) and Doncic (27 points, seven rebounds, eight assists) led the Mavs in that game. . .The Mavs are 93-73 all-time against the Kings, including a 36-46 record in Sacramento.
About the Kings: Tonight’s contest is the last of a three-game home stand for Sacramento before it starts a five-game road trip Saturday in Utah. . .The Kings lost at home to the Milwaukee Bucks last Friday, 127-106, and lost at home to the Orlando Magic on Monday, 114-112, on Aaron Gordon’s three-point play with just 1.1 seconds left. . .Point guard De’Aaron Fox finished with 19 points, nine rebounds, 10 assists, four steals and two blocks in the loss to the Bucks, and also collected 31 points, eight rebounds and 10 assists against the Magic. Nemanja Bjelica added 34 points, seven rebounds and two steals against Orlando. . .Led by Buddy Hield and Fox, the Kings have a very balanced attack. Hield is shooting 37 percent from 3-point range and averaging 20.2 ppg and 5.1 rpg. Fox has sliced and diced his way to averages of 18.9 ppg and 7.0 apg. . .Former Mavs forward Harrison Barnes is averaging 15.2 ppg, Bogdan Bogdanovic (questionable with an ankle injury) averages 14.5 ppg, Richaun Holmes is averaging 13.1 ppg and 8.5 rpg (although he will sit with a shoulder injury), and Bjelica averages 12.2 ppg and 6.4 rpg. . .Bjelica tallied a game-high 30 points and Hield added 26 points and five assists during the Kings’ 110-106 win over the Mavs in Dallas on Dec. 8. . .The Kings are 8-12 on their home court.
Twitter: @DwainPrice
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