GAME 23: SAC (9-13) @ DAL (16-7) | 106-110 loss

[j0Shi]

Keys:

• Let's keep rolling: Mavs are certainly in a groove. So I'd say let's keep on moving and remain dominant! You're asking how dominant? Well, over the last ten, Mavs not only post the best offense and overall net rating, but their defense has also started to clamp down. Their 104.1 rating is good for 6th in the league during that stretch. That's elite. Market is on the Mavs as well. Vegas started at -6 and it's now trending towards -8.5.
  
• Luka facing another team that passed on him: I think this is more a story line for the media than Luka, but always fun to get a win versus a team that passed on him in the 2018 draft. The Kings questioned his fit next to Fox, and don't look too great a season later.
  
• Kings hoping for playoffs: To make matters worse, both Fox and the guy the Kings drafted in place of Luka (Bagley) are currently out due to injuries. Sacramento is in the group of playoff hopefuls in the West, and playing without their two young stars doesn't help. They are still just 1.5 games back, but in a crowded West that can feel like 5.
  
• Familiar face: One guy helping to keep the Kings afloat is HB. He is still the hard worker and Mr. Reliable, for better or worse. The other two guys you don't want to heat up are Hield and Bogdanović. Both are a little up and down all season, but can certainly take over games.
  
• Back-2-back grind: Dallas is on the tail end of four games in six nights. In the first back-2-back set they certainly looked a little out of sorts against the Timberwolves, and needed a big 4th from beyond the arc to put Minnesota away. Given that they struggled with the long ball yesterday as well, it could be a difficult game even though the Mavs are a clear favorite.
  
• No Delon: Let's hope for a speedy recovery here. He has been an important piece. No Wright means more minutes for Curry and Brunson though, which both have been playing really well themselves. Dallas has a deep bench.