Dallas MavericksOpen full analysis
Sacramento KingsOpen full analysis
The Dallas Mavericks edged the Sacramento Kings 100–98 on January 6 at Golden 1 Center in a defensive struggle that fell well short of the 233.5-point Vegas total. DeRozan led Sacramento with 21 points while LaVine added 20, but the Kings managed just a 42.4 percent field-goal rate and committed 12 turnovers in the loss. Dallas countered behind Flagg's 20 points and Davis's 19, though the Mavericks shot only 40.6 percent themselves and turned the ball over 16 times. The third quarter proved decisive—Dallas outscored Sacramento 30–20 in that frame to seize control despite being outrebounded 43–55 overall. Both teams posted nearly identical defensive ratings near 94.7, underscoring how tightly contested the matchup remained throughout. The Mavericks' rebound advantage and third-quarter surge proved marginal but sufficient to secure the one-point victory on the road. Dallas's ability to steal close games will be critical as the playoff picture tightens.
