Sacramento broke through for its first win, using a stronger second half and three 23-plus-point scorers to pull away in Dallas.
The Sacramento Kings snapped their 0-6 start with a 115-100 road win over the Dallas Mavericks. Sacramento led 19-18 after one, and both teams scored 35 in the second to leave the Kings up just one at halftime. The Kings widened the gap with a 27-21 third quarter, then added eight more points to their margin in the fourth. Darius Acuff Jr. led Sacramento with 25 points on 10-of-21 shooting, five rebounds, six assists, one steal, no blocks and five turnovers. Malik Monk delivered 24 points on 9-of-14 shooting, including 5-of-8 from three, with one rebound, seven assists, no steals, one block and two turnovers. Zach LaVine added 23 points on 8-of-14 shooting, four rebounds, one assist, no steals or blocks and three turnovers. Dallas got 20 points from Daniel Gafford on 9-of-10 shooting, plus seven rebounds, no assists, one steal, one block and one turnover, while Walter Clayton Jr. also scored 20 on 6-of-9 shooting with one rebound, two assists, one steal, no blocks and zero turnovers. Cooper Flagg had 17 points on 3-of-19 shooting, four rebounds, six assists, two steals, no blocks and six turnovers as the Mavericks fell short.
Key Performers
Darius Acuff Jr. (Kings): 25 PTS, 5 REB, 6 AST; 10/21 FG Malik Monk (Kings): 24 PTS, 7 AST, 1 BLK; 9/14 FG, 5/8 3PT Daniel Gafford (Mavericks): 20 PTS, 7 REB, 1 BLK; 9/10 FG
Standings Impact
Sacramento moved from 0-6 to 1-6; Dallas dropped from 4-2 to 4-3.
DYMA Insight
The Kings earned their first win despite entering the game ranked 30th in the power index, against a Dallas team ranked 10th. Sacramento's 61-48 second-half edge turned a one-point halftime lead into a 15-point final margin.