
The streak is over.
For the first time since 2003, the Sacramento Kings went into Dallas and came away with a victory. After losing four-straight overall and 22 consecutive to the Mavericks in Dallas, the Kings used a team effort to come away with a 104-101 win.
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Playing in Dallas for the first time since being sent home from the playoffs last year, Rajon Rondo heard a chorus of boos every time he touched the ball. That didn’t stop the NBA’s assist leader from having a big night against his former team. Rondo finished with 18 points, 12 assists, five rebounds and three steals in 38 minutes.
DeMarcus Cousins continued his All-NBA-level play, notching his fifth-straight double-double, giving him 37 on the season. The star big man scored 22 points, grabbed 13 rebounds, handed out five assists and picked up a pair of blocks in the much-needed victory.
Darren Collison, another former Maverick guard, also went on the attack, dropping in 14 points off the Kings bench on 5-for-7 shooting. His free throws with just under five seconds left in the game sealed the deal for the Kings.
Collison wasn’t the only sub to come in and make an impact. Marco Belinelli posted his second straight big game, scoring 16 points on 6-for-10 shooting from the field and 3-of-5 from long range.
NBA
Chandler Parsons looked like a one-man layup line for the Mavericks. The 27-year-old wing used pump fakes to get Kings players in the air and attack the basket to the tune of 28 points on 12-for-17 shooting. Parsons added eight rebounds and five assists in the loss.
Newly acquired forward David Lee also made his presence felt, coming off the Mavericks bench to chip in 12 points and 11 rebounds.
Dirk Nowitzki used a buzzer-beater to chip in 16 points on 7-of-16 shooting.
Deron Williams had a rough shooting night, but managed to drop in 15 points.
STANDOUT PERFORMER
Rondo did the only thing you can do when faced with a hostile crowd -- he let his play do the talking. Rick Carlisle resorted to the hack-a-Rondo strategy late and the veteran guard made his former coach pay the price.
TURNING POINT
The Kings jumped all over the Mavericks to start the fourth, but they left the door open by missing countless free throws down the stretch. This one could have gone either way.
INJURY UPDATE
Rudy Gay returned to the Kings lineup after missing the previous two games with right shoulder strain. Rondo shook off a series of injuries, including an ankle sprain, turf toe injury and thumb issue. Seth Curry missed his third-straight game with a right foot sprain.
WHAT'S NEXT
The Kings take a short trip from Dallas to San Antonio where they’ll take on the Spurs on Saturday night.