Sacramento Kings vs. Dallas Mavericks: Odds, Injuries, & Predictions

The Sacramento Kings will play the final game of their homestand tonight against Luka Doncic and the visiting Dallas Mavericks.

The last time the Sacramento Kings played against the Mavericks was in Dallas on December 8th, and it was one of the last joyful moments that the Kings would feel for well over a month.

The Kings were nine-point underdogs in that game, but were able to build a large lead and fend off a Mavericks comeback in order to secure the unlikely road victory. Nemanja Bjelica scored a then-career-high 30 points and Buddy Hield added 26.

Mavericks young star Luka Doncic was in the ear of the referees the entire game and seemed to have a complaint after every call and non-call throughout the contest. He was just 3 for 12 from deep.

Much has been made about the Doncic/Marvin Bagley situation, but there is one last, pitiful ray of sunshine for Kings fans when it comes to the one-sided conversation and rivalry: Doncic is 0-4 against the Kings in his career.

He likely knows it, and the streak likely ends tonight.

Here’s what you need to know about tonight’s contest:

Tip-off: 7:00 PM PT
Radio: 1140 KHTK
Watch: NBC Sports California, or stream live on Fubo.tv

Betting Info:

Spread: Mavericks -3

Over/Under: 228.5

Money Line: 

Kings +145

Mavericks -170

Against The Spread:

Kings 20-20

Mavericks 21-18-1

(Courtesy of the Action Network)

Injury Report:

Kings:

Bogdan Bogdanovic – Doubtful (ankle)

Richaun Holmes – Out (shoulder)

Nemanja Bjelica – Probable (ankle)

Mavericks:

Kristaps Porzingis – Probable (knee, illness)

Last 5 Meetings:

12/8/19 – Kings 110, Mavericks 106

3/26/19 – Kings 125, Mavericks 121

3/21/19 – Kings 116, Mavericks 100

12/16/18 – Kings 120, Mavericks 113

3/27/18 – Mavericks 103, Kings 97

Players To Watch

In the last meeting, Tim Hardaway Jr. caught fire and led the Mavericks by scoring 29 points on 9 made threes. Giving the Mavericks a third scoring option behind Doncic and Porzingis is essentially a death sentence, so we’ll see how well Sacramento is able to contain Dallas’ complementary players.

One of the difference makers in that first matchup was Cory Joseph‘s ability to play lockdown defense, something that has been lacking during the Kings’ current tough stretch. It will be interesting to see how Luke Walton plans to use both De’Aaron Fox as well as Joseph to try and give trouble to the Dallas backcourt, and if that duo will be effective.

Also, something tells me that Marvin Bagley is going to have a big game. No rhyme, no reason. No inside scoop. Just an unreasonable gut feeling. Which is weird because I’ve fallen (almost) completely off of the Bagley Wagon in recent weeks.

Prediction:

Mavericks 112, Kings 98