Dallas Mavericks: Cousins, Kings Stomp Mavs at Home
After losing to the Charlotte Hornets on Monday night, Dallas looked to a home game against the 7-13 Sacramento Kings to get back on track. It did not go as planned.
For Dallas, the Mavericks came into the matchup short handed once again as Andrew Bogut joined Dirk Nowitzki, J.J. Barea and Seth Curry in sitting out of the game due to injury. Looking to ride the hot shooting of Matthews and Barnes, Dallas looked to have a bounce back win at home after losing to the Hornets on Monday night.
For Sacramento, they came into the matchup with a 7-13 record after losing their last three games. With their roster at full strength on two days rest, the Kings were exactly where they wanted to be coming into the game preparation wise.
Dec 7, 2016; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Mavericks forward Dwight Powell (7) drives to the basket past Sacramento Kings center Willie Cauley-Stein (00) and forward Matt Barnes (22) during the second quarter at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
The Game
The game started with Salah Mejri on Cousins and Cousins got the better hand obviously. With Darren Collison leading the way with eight points, Cousins followed behind with seven points, six rebounds, and two assists in the first quarter. Behind 14 points in the paint, Sacramento tok a three point lead into the second quarter.
The Kings kept the pace up as they went into the second quarter running. Looking to stretch the lead out, Boogie Cousins and Rudy Gay made their presence known by finishing the half in double figures. But Dallas made a late quarter run behind 16 first half points from Wesley Matthews to pull the game within four.
The third quarter was the same old story as Sacramento rode the hand of Cousins in the third. If he didn’t score in the post, he demanded a double team that allowed his teammates to score. With Mejri picking up his fourth foul early in the third, Dallas was forced small for the majority of the quarter.
The fourth quarter turned into a blowout as Dallas could never find a way to stop the Kings from running the floor. Behind Cousins, Sacramento won the game 120-89.
Deciding Statistic
Without Andrew Bogut and more importantly, Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas will always be facing an uphill battle to score more points in the paint. Combine that with the fact they are playing DeMarcus Cousins and you have a recipe for disaster.
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With three minutes to go in the third quarter, the Kings had 46 points in the paint compared to the Mavericks’ 18. You could even mention fast break points too as at that same point in the third the Kings had 24 compared to the Mavs 3.
Dallas finished the night with 30 points in the paint compared to the Kings 68.
Player of the Game
Going into the game you would have guessed one person and leaving the game you are saying the same one…DeMarcus Cousins was the player of the game.
If he wasn’t scoring in the post, he was scoring from outside of the arc and if he wasn’t scoring, he was drawing double teams that opened up his team.
Even though he sat some of the fourth quarter due to the blowout, Cousins finished with 24 points, 14 rebounds, and 7 assists. He very well could have finished with a triple double if he played the majority of the fourth.
Dallas falls to 4-16 on the season as they welcome the Indiana Pacers to town on Friday night.