SACRAMENTO KINGS (3-2) at MAVERICKS (3-2)
Time: 2:30 p.m.
Place: American Airlines Center, Dallas.
TV: Bally Sports Southwest, ESPN.
Radio: The Eagle 97.1 FM; Zona MX 99.1 FM (Spanish)
About the Mavericks: They have two losses this season and both are by more than 25 points, including Friday’s 106-75 loss at Denver . . . They also lost all three meetings with the Kings last season, including two at AAC. And they weren’t really close, losing by 14 and 12 points . . . However, don’t blame Luka Dončić for that. He’s averaged 27.9 points, 10.4 rebounds and 8.7 assists in 10 career games against the Kings . . . The Mavericks are hoping to get Kristaps Porzingis (lower back tightness) and Sterling Brown (left ankle sprain) back after both have missed two games . . . Much has been made about the Mavericks’ early season shooting, but Maxi Kleber (.455), Jalen Brunson (.400) and Tim Hardaway Jr. (.394) all have gotten off to hot shooting starts . . . The Mavericks have another home game Tuesday against Miami before visiting San Antonio the following night . . . If you’re into spooky omens, the Mavericks are 8-3 when they’ve played on Halloween. But, the road team has won 11 of the last 14 meetings in this series.
About the Kings: Former Maverick Harrison Barnes is off to a blazing start, averaging 25 points and 10.4 rebounds in the opening five games. Those both would be career bests by a huge margin if he keeps that pace. The key for him has been the long ball. He’s hit 19-of-36 3-pointers so far (52.8 percent) . . . In their 113-109 victory over New Orleans on Friday, five Kings had 17 points or more, led by De’Aaron Fox, who had 23. They also got 21 points from underrated center Richaun Holmes . . . Buddy Hield had 20 points against the Pelicans and he may have found a new niche coming off the bench. He’s averaged 18.6 points in the first five games, all as the Kings’ sixth man. That could put him and Jalen Brunson both on the sixth-man radar as the season evolves . . . The Kings are on a four-game road trip and already have won at Phoenix and New Orleans. The trip ends Tuesday at Utah . . . The Kings have not been relevant in the NBA for a long, long time. The last time they made the playoffs was 2005-06, when Mike Bibby and Brad Miller were their best players and Luka Doncic was 7 years old.
Twitter: @ESefko
Share and comment