With their sixth consecutive victory, the Dallas Mavericks defeated the Sacramento Kings 107-103 on Friday night. Dante Exum made the game-winning 3-pointer with 27.5 seconds remaining, while Kyrie Irving had 30 points.
P.J. Washington set up Exum’s wide-open shot, which made it 106-103 and completed the Mavericks’ comeback from a 15-point deficit in the second half. Irving scored thirty points total, with Luka Doncic adding twenty-six more for Dallas in the fourth quarter.
Following the Kings’ offensive rebound, Harrison Barnes committed a backcourt infraction and missed a potentially game-winning 3-point shot. Exum, who was 1 of 4 from beyond the arc before that effort, had his redemption moment with the late shot. Despite missing open threes, he had all the attention on Irving and Doncic, and the ball repeatedly found Exum in crunch time with room and time.
We have faith in Exum, stated head coach Jason Kidd.
Before joining the Mavericks in the offseason, Exum, a former lottery pick from a decade ago, spent a few years out of the game. He has since established himself as a reliable role player on a talented Dallas squad. He claimed that the coaches make fun of him often for shooting 50% from beyond the arc this season.
Exum stated, “So if I miss one, the next one’s in.” “I would just think that way all the time.”
Exum claimed that when he would glance to the bench following his misses, his teammates would only offer him encouragement.
Specifically, Irving gave him a direct look and said, “We’re going to be fine.”
The Dallas Mavericks defeated the Los Angeles Kings in a thrilling game, with Dallas winning 10 of its last 11 games and moving two games ahead of the Kings for the sixth spot in the Western Conference.
The Mavericks have won back-to-back games over the Kings, with Domantas Sabonis leading the Kings with a 26th triple-double and 56th consecutive double-double. De’Aaron Fox scored 23 points, and Barnes had 20.
Kings coach Mike Brown praised the Mavericks’ execution in the fourth quarter, with Sabonis hitting a big three. Both teams shot 47% from the field in the first half, but the Kings led by 15 points. Starting guard Kevin Huerter will be out for the rest of the season due to left shoulder surgery. Keon Ellis will replace Huerter, while Maki Monk left the game with a right knee injury.
(AP)
