\u2014 NBA on NBC and Peacock (@NBAonNBC) January 7, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Sacramento Kings vs. Dallas Mavericks takeaways<\/p>\n The Sacramento Kings have been plagued by injuries since training camp, and the news regarding Keegan Murray\u2019s ankle<\/a> was the latest blow to a rotation that was already thin at the forward positions.<\/p>\n Sacramento may have been without Murray for Tuesday\u2019s late-night matchup against Dallas, but Zach LaVine\u2019s return to the starting lineup helped pace an impressive start for a Kings offense that entered play with the NBA\u2019s worst offensive rating.<\/p>\n LaVine\u2019s quick start (nine points in the first quarter) was the driving force behind a 35-point opening frame for Sacramento, one that gave them an early ten-point lead after shooting six-of-ten from downtown.<\/p>\n First-overall pick Cooper Flagg gave the Mavericks a lift by scoring nine points over the first few minutes of the second quarter to chip into the Kings\u2019 lead, but Sacramento\u2019s impressive pace was the difference during the first half.<\/p>\n LaVine and Russell Westbrook scored 11 points each during the first 24 minutes of play, with both star guards doing most of their damage in transition. The Kings outscored Dallas 22-5 in fast-break points during the first half while also winning the turnover battle seven to 11.<\/p>\n A successful opening half was capped off with an exclamation point by a rare Precious Achiuwa coast-to-coast slam, one that may very well be Sacramento\u2019s dunk of the year to this point.<\/p>\n PRECIOUS. ACHIUWA. \ud83e\udd27<\/p>\n Nasty.<\/p>\n Tap to watch: https:\/\/t.co\/nT0VTHYRUK<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/D1NzSjKmwa<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 NBA (@NBA) January 7, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n If you thought things seemed to be going a little too well for the Kings, you were right.<\/p>\n Dallas fought back in the third quarter, outscoring Sacramento 30-20 to cut the deficit to two heading into the fourth, setting the stage for a close finish in front of a national audience on NBC and Peacock.<\/p>\n The Kings held a lead for over 40 minutes on Tuesday, but the Mavericks would finally take the lead\u2013their first since leading 14-13 during the first quarter\u2013with less than five minutes remaining in regulation.<\/p>\n DeMar DeRozan hasn\u2019t been his usual self in close games, lacking the Clutch Player of the Year runner-up pedigree he had a few seasons ago, but the future Hall of Famer came up big for Sacramento in crunch time against Dallas.<\/p>\n DeRozan drilled a triple and mid-range on consecutive possessions to give the Kings a one-point lead with 40 seconds to go, but Mavs guard Brandon Williams\u2019 go-ahead attempt from deep came up nothing but net to put Sacramento in a one-point hole.<\/p>\n Outside of DeRozan\u2019s five-point burst, the Kings had poor late-game execution, especially in the final moments.<\/p>\n Both Dennis Schroder and Russell Westbrook had chances to regain the lead, but each player\u2019s attempts were well off the mark, allowing Dallas to draw a foul and head to the free throw line.<\/p>\n Although the Mavericks missed both free throws, Sacramento failed to create a good look at the horn as DeRozan\u2019s prayer came up empty, sending the Kings to their sixth-straight loss.<\/p>\n Both Dennis Schroder and Russell Westbrook got 3PAs as they were down 2 with seconds remaining.<\/p>\n Neither were close. pic.twitter.com\/n70KyEsT7q<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Brenden Nunes (@BrendenNunesNBA) January 7, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cJust have to have better execution,\u201d DeRozan said of his team\u2019s shot selection during the final seconds. \u201cJust being more organized. We don\u2019t give ourselves a chance to get good looks off. I think that\u2019s what it is.\u201d<\/p>\n Sacramento was all over the place during the final minutes of the fourth, but this game turned on its head as soon as the halftime break ended.<\/p>\n The Kings\u2019 12-point lead was all but erased in the third, and Dallas turned up the heat even more in the fourth quarter by holding Sacramento to 34 percent shooting from the field and one-of-eight (12%) from three-point range.<\/p>\n A strong start on the offensive end (35 points in the first) was the lone bright spot for the Kings, as they failed to replicate that success the rest of the way, especially in the fourth.<\/p>\n \u201cI definitely think there was some shot selection that we could have done better,\u201d head coach Doug Christie said. \u201cThere has to be an ability to close games. We have to have the patience to have good shot selection in those moments.\u201d<\/p>\n Notes<\/p>\n Rookie center Maxime Raynaud scored 14 points and grabbed nine boards on six-of-seven shooting from the field during the losing effort. Raynaud is ranked sixth among rookies in games with 10+ points and 5+ rebounds.<\/a><\/p>\n Zach LaVine scored 20 points (8\/19 FG) for a second-straight game in his return from an ankle injury.<\/p>\n DeMar DeRozan finished with a game-high 21 points (8\/18 FG) to go along with five assists and two steals.<\/p>\n After outscoring Dallas 22-5 in fast-break points during the first half, Sacramento lost that battle 14-5 in the second half.<\/p>\n Sacramento Kings Injury Updates<\/p>\n Forward Keegan Murray exited Sunday\u2019s game after injuring his ankle and did not return. An update on Murray will be provided later this week.<\/p>\n Center Domantas Sabonis, who has been sidelined since November 16th due to a partially torn meniscus in his left knee, will miss at least another 2-3 weeks of action.<\/a><\/p>\n When is the next Sacramento Kings game?<\/p>\n The Sacramento Kings will travel down I-80 East on Friday night for a matchup against Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center.<\/p>\n Sacramento defeated the Warriors by a final score of 121-116 on November 5th at Golden 1 Center, a game that did not feature Curry, Draymond Green, or Jimmy Butler due to injury.<\/p>\n Be sure to catch all of the Sacramento Kings vs. Golden State Warriors action right here on Sactown Sports 1140 AM, with pregame coverage beginning at 5:30 PM PT on\u00a0Game Night before a 7:00 pm PT tip-off from downtown San Francisco.<\/p>\n Friday, January 9th\u00a0\u2013 @ Golden State Warriors \u2013 7:00 PM PT Thank you for reading\u00a0SactownSports.com<\/a>. Follow us on\u00a0Twitter<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Google News<\/a>, and subscribe to our\u00a0YouTube<\/a>\u00a0channel.<\/p>\n![\"YouTube](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/1767771430_773_hqdefault.jpg\")
\nUpcoming Sacramento Kings schedule for the 2025-26 season<\/p>\n
\nSunday, January 11th \u2013 vs. Houston Rockets \u2013 6:00 PM PT
\nMonday, January 12th \u2013 vs. Los Angeles Lakers \u2013 7:00 PM PT
\nWednesday, January 14th \u2013 vs. New York Knicks \u2013 7:00 PM PT
\nFriday, January 16th \u2013 vs. Washington Wizards \u2013 7:00 PM PT<\/p>\n
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