DeMar DeRozan Scores 42 as Mavericks Fall to Kings in Overtime Loss: “He Made a Really Good Play”

DeMar DeRozan scored a season-high 42 points, including a game-winning baseline floater with 1.9 seconds left in overtime, as the Sacramento Kings (27-26) defeated the Dallas Mavericks (28-26), 129-128, on Monday night.

DeRozan’s clutch floater capped a game that saw the Mavericks struggle with injuries and a depleted roster. Sacramento’s win was further aided by solid performances from Zach LaVine and Malik Monk, who each scored 17 points. Domantas Sabonis also contributed with 16 points, 15 rebounds, and eight assists.

Dallas was already missing several key players before the game. Power forwards Anthony Davis and P.J. Washington, along with centers Dereck Lively II and Dwight Powell, were all sidelined due to injuries. The Mavericks’ situation worsened early in the second quarter when center Daniel Gafford was lost to a sprained right knee after a knee-to-knee collision with Monk. Gafford did not return after being diagnosed with a right knee sprain, leaving Dallas without a traditional center.

Kyrie Irving led the Mavericks with 30 points, nine rebounds, seven assists, and three steals. Spencer Dinwiddie added 20 points, while Klay Thompson scored 19. Other double-figure scorers included Olivier-Maxence Prosper with 16 and Max Christie with 15. Dallas shot an efficient 49 of 95 (51.6%) overall and 15 of 37 (40.5%) from deep, turned it over only 11 times, but shot just 15 of 24 (62.5%) on free throws.

It was a tightly contested game throughout the first half.

The Kings were up 15-13 entering a timeout midway through the first quarter despite Thompson and Danté Exum getting off to a strong start. Dallas went on to lead 35-27 at the end of the opening period, with Dinwiddie scoring 12 points to help create the early advantage. Sacramento did not relent—tying it up 61-61 entering halftime. DeRozan already had 21 points at the break, with LaVine scoring another 12

Once again, the Mavericks did generate positive momentum, with Irving beginning to heat up in the third quarter. However, a stretch including consecutive made threes from Max Christie helped push Dallas’ lead to 92-86 with roughly 29 seconds to play in the period.

The momentum continued in the Mavericks’ favor to start the fourth quarter, using a three from Thompson and two free throws from Irving to answer a reverse layup from Jonas Valančiūnas. Both teams went through a scoring drought, but a floater from Irving gave Dallas a double-digit lead (100-89) with 8:52 remaining in regulation to play. Sacramento used a 12-2 run to to settle the game down—after Keon Ellis made a layup off a Sabonis assist—making it 106-105.

With Dallas so undersized, the team was at a disadvantage trying to come up with margin plays down the stetch. Two free throws from Christie setup a 114-110 lead with under two minutes to go, but Monk got into the paint and scored. An offensive foul by Dinwiddie gave Sacramento a chance to tie or take the lead. As consecutive missed threes occurred leading to Kings offensive rebounds, a Sabonis putback tied it up at 114-114. Irving responded with a finish to put Dallas up by two with 15.1 seconds remaining to play, but DeRozan, who scored 15 points in the period, answered with a mid-range bucket of his own to tie it up at 116-116 apiece.

With 3.1 seconds on the clock coming out of a timeout, Irving got blocked by Monk on a layup, resulting in overtime.

Early in overtime, neither team could create separation. It didn’t become a two-possession game until after Sabonis split free throws, Monk got the offensive rebound and finished, Irving missed a three, then DeRozan got to the line for two free throws. That sequence of events put Sacramento up 127-123 with 21.1 seconds in overtime.

Irving responded by flaring off a screen before catching an inbounds pass lofted by Dinwiddie, then using a euro-step to avoid a help defender in the paint before a layup. With DeRozan missing a layup, Dallas had a real chance.

Thompson’s biggest moment included a clutch three-pointer to give the Mavericks a 128-127 lead with 9.8 seconds left in overtime.

“It felt good when it left my hand, and it sucks that we didn’t walk away with a win and we can’t even celebrate,” Thompson said. “But that’s the life we chose and I’ll be ready to knock it down the next time, too.”

But the Kings responded with DeRozan’s game-winning basket. Dallas needed a defensive stop but was unable to get it done.

“We did an incredible job defensively trapping him,” Thompson said about DeRozan’s game-winner. “That’s a hard shot, too. He made a really good play.”

Dinwiddie committed a charge while dribbling near midcourt after having only 2.0 seconds left on a final possession.

The Kings capitalized on their size advantage in the paint, out-rebounding Dallas 50-33, including a 13-5 edge in offensive rebounds and an 18-5 advantage in second-chance points. Sacramento scored 74 points in the paint, taking full advantage of the Mavericks’ relying heavily on small ball after Gafford’s injury.

“When (Gafford is) healthy enough to be out there and play, just like the other guys that are on the IR right now — we’ll welcome them back with open arms,” Irving said. “But we just got to be ready to play small ball and be feisty out there and consistently hold each other accountable. We’re going to need that even more so.”

After losing Gafford, the Mavericks had to lean on rookie Kylor Kelley, signed to a two-way contract just a week earlier. Kelley was the only available center on the roster for the remainder of the game.

“In the moment (losing Gafford) is deflating just because we’ve had so many injuries this year, unfortunately,” Irving said. “When we see one of our teammates going down, and he’s staying down a little bit longer than usual, it’s a little bit more serious.

“I’m just praying for him and I’ll send out a prayer for all my guys,” Irving continued. “So emotionally, I’ll go on record as saying he’s human, so when we see one of our brothers go down we’re definitely going to feel it.”

While NBA coaches are required to speak to the media in the postgame, head coach Jason Kidd did not participate in a press conference. Irving and Thompson were the only representatives of the Mavericks made available to speak.

With the win, the Kings improved to 27-26, moving closer to the Mavericks in the Western Conference standings. Dallas ranks eighth in the West, with just a half game lead over Sacramento and the Golden State Warriors. Sacramento continues its road trip with a game at New Orleans on Wednesday, while the Mavericks host Golden State on Wednesday.

Despite the loss, the Mavericks know they will need to regroup and push forward with a banged-up roster. Dallas plays its final two games before the All-Star break at the American Airlines Center—a home crowd that has only become more frustrated with the team after Davis’ injury during his debut performance. Multiple fans were escorted out of the arena after chanting Luka Dončić’s name during free throws. Other interactions included chants of “Fire Nico” among others.

Irving was sympathetic to the ongoing experience that fans are going through.

“I think it’s graduated from just like hate to now, anger—it’s the cycle of emotions—just the hate, the anger, the grieving and then the passion,” Irving said. “You gotta give credit to Dallas fans. They’ve really cheered not only for Luka, but for the Mavericks for 40 some odd years, and this is their community team. So it’s just like I felt the way when the New Jersey Nets moved to Brooklyn and I don’t know, not comparing it, but it’s just like I felt a way when I was a kid.

“Even when [Jason Kidd] was on the Nets and he got traded, I was mad at JK for a while as a young fan, you know what I mean? It’s just part of the human nature in this journey in the NBA business and the NBA lifestyle. Just the connectivity engagement we have with the fans,” Irving continued. “They’re young fans, their older fans have been cheering for everybody. So you just gotta give everybody grace and to see the emotions come out like that over basketball that just shows you that basketball is not just a game to certain people. It’s a spiritual experience. It’s a connector piece and they watch their favorite players and they want to see them forever.”

Thompson shared a similar sentiment to Irving.

“It’s not our job to get deflated because people are upset,” Thompson said. “Our job is to convince them that there are really great days ahead, not just for this year but for the next few years. People are going to say stuff, and that’s understandable. I was a fan, and I’m still a fan. If I didn’t agree with a trade, I’d probably voice my opinion too. That’s the beauty of sports. You go there to yell and be rambunctious sometimes.”