Mavericks at Kings
The two worst teams in the Western Conference square off Saturday when the Dallas Mavericks visit the Sacramento Kings. Dallas owns the worst record after five consecutive defeats and also has struggled recently against the Kings by dropping six of the past eight meetings.
The Mavericks are having trouble scoring points as they have accumulated fewer than 90 in each of the past three games, including a 102-88 loss to the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday. Dallas has shot 40 percent or less from the field in each of the last four games while scoring less than 100 in six straight contests. Sacramento has dropped 10 of its last 13 games after losing a 119-104 decision to the Golden State Warriors on Friday. Kings center Willie Cauley-Stein will be watched closely on the second end of the back-to-back after scoring 13 points in 35 minutes after missing the previous two contests.
TV: 10 p.m. ET, FS Southwest (Dallas), NBCS California (Sacramento)
ABOUT THE MAVERICKS (16-36): Guard J.J. Barea (oblique) will test his injury during the mid-day shootaround and hopes to be cleared to play after a three-game absence. His return would be timely after starter Wesley Matthews suffered through a 2-of-17 shooting night (missing all nine 3-point attempts) while scoring six points against the Suns. Point guard Dennis Smith Jr. continues to be one of the few bright spots on the team and he has posted 16 straight double-digit scoring efforts and is averaging 14.8 points and 4.8 assists.
ABOUT THE KINGS (16-35): Coach Dave Joerger raved about his team's effort and tenacity against the Warriors but allowed that his team faded down the stretch and didn't take advantage of the opportunities. "The 25 turnovers we forced, we didn't just convert enough," Joerger said afterward. "We missed, I want to say, 12 to 15 layups. We need to finish better at the basket." Sacramento racked up 16 steals with six players having two or more and 41-year-old swingman Vince Carter had a season-best three thefts for the third time this season.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. PG George Hill scored 21 points as the Kings recorded a 93-88 road victory over the Mavericks on Oct. 20.
2. Dallas PF Dirk Nowitzki had 14 points and 10 rebounds against the Suns for his third double-double of the season and 408th of his career.
3. Sacramento PG De'Aaron Fox is averaging 17.8 points over the past four games.