Game time: 7:00 p.m. PDT
Where: Sleep Train Arena, Sacramento, CA.
Broadcast Information: KHTK Sports 1140 (Radio), Comcast SportsNet California (Local Television)
Sacramento Kings Probable Starters (16-21)
PG: Darren Collison
SG: Ben McLemore
SF: Rudy Gay
PF: Jason Thompson
C: DeMarcus Cousins
Dallas Mavericks Probable Starters (26-12)
PG: Rajon Rondo
SG: Monta Ellis
SF: Chandler Parsons
PF: Dirk Nowitzki
C: Tyson Chandler
Three things to ponder
1. Carelessness
When the two teams played in Dallas on November 11, the Kings surrendered 22 turnovers in an ugly collapse. Now Sacramento needs to be even more wary of ball control, facing Rajon Rondo this time around. Since joining the Mavericks in a December 18 trade, the stopper has averaged 1.6 steals in 11 appearances.
2. Perimeter defense
The Mavericks take and make the fifth-most 3-pointers in the NBA, and they shot 10-for-27 from behind the arc in their November win. The spotlight once again rests on Jason Thompson, who struggled to contain Kevin Love from outside on Sunday, and is now tasked with slowing Dirk Nowitzki. Nowitzki scored 23 points on 7-of-12 field goals in his last match versus Thompson.
3. The elusive two-game winning streak
Since Sacramento’s 9-5 start to the season, the team has failed to win two games in a row. Beating the Mavericks, who the Kings blew a 24-point lead to earlier in the year, would be a nice stepping stone.
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