Last night’s game between the Dallas Mavericks and the Sacramento Kings had the feeling of a playoff series.

Dallas entered the night as the No. 4 seed in the crowded West, just a game back of Sacramento in the standings. The stakes were real, and the Kings came through when it mattered most.

“It’s definitely, definitely different basketball,” Domantas Sabonis said afterwards. “The physicality, the defense, pushing yourself to the limits where you haven’t been doing it during the season against the other teams. It’s definitely different. These teams know that we’re up there (in the standings). We know that they’re up there. It’s a battle.”


De’Aaron Fox had one of his most complete games of the season, offensively and defensively, scoring 26 points in the fourth quarter and overtime, and setting a new season high in the NBA with 14 points in the extra period. Fox entered Saturday with the most clutch points in the league, and he hit the fourth quarter with just 10 points, setting the stage for another takeover.


Fox put the offense on his shoulders the rest of the way, playing the entire fourth quarter and overtime, beating Mavs defenders with his hesitation dribbles and crossovers. He scored with scoop layups and floaters. The crowd at Golden 1 Center roared at its apex when Fox came away with a steal from Doncic and a dunk with 1:44 remaining, giving Sacramento a 112-111 lead, their first of the fourth quarter.

Fox accounted for all but five of the Kings’ points in overtime.

Vegas betting odds have been against the Kings since the beginning of the season. Though that narrative has changed with the Kings performance, betting odds are now again against them again with the flurry of trades the West made which brought KD to the Suns, Kyrie to the Mavs, and a slew of extra talent to the Clippers and the Lakers.

They may not finish #3 but one thing is for certain. The Kings are for real and can take down anyone on any given night.