The Sacramento Kings cruised to a 122-98 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Monday night, extending their winning streak to four games.
The Mavericks, who have now lost four of their last five, suffered a significant setback when Kyrie Irving exited late in the first quarter with a left knee sprain.
Irving sustained the injury after landing awkwardly on a drive to the basket. He remained on the floor for several minutes before sinking two free throws and heading to the locker room with assistance. He finished with five points in nine minutes.
Zach LaVine led Sacramento with 22 points, while DeMar DeRozan added 20. Both sat out the fourth quarter as the Kings maintained control. Jonas Valančiūnas, making his first start since being acquired on Feb. 5, contributed 14 points and nine rebounds in 23 minutes.
Sacramento played without Domantas Sabonis, the NBA's leading rebounder, who is sidelined for at least a week with a grade 1 left hamstring strain sustained in Saturday’s win at Houston.
For Dallas, Kai Jones, signed Monday to a two-way contract, recorded a career-high 21 points along with nine rebounds. The Mavericks also lost reserve guard Jaden Hardy in the third quarter due to a right ankle sprain.
Key stats and takeaways
- Kings: Swept the three-game season series against Dallas and are tied for eighth in the Western Conference, one game ahead of the Mavericks.
- Mavericks: Made just seven 3-pointers on 25 attempts, one above their season low.
- Momentum Shift: Sacramento led by 10 at halftime and pulled away with a 21-2 run in the third quarter, outscoring Dallas 34-16 in the period.
Both teams continue their road trips Wednesday, with the Kings facing Denver and the Mavericks visiting Milwaukee.
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