Game Preview: Kings At Mavericks
The last time the Sacramento Kings won a regular-season game in Dallas, Chris Webber didn't even have that great of a performance and Vlade Divac still had a few decent seasons left in him.
The last time they won six of their first eight games, DeMarcus Cousins was 11.
The Kings can make both of those facts history as they try to continue their strong start and end the NBA's second-longest active road losing streak in a series Tuesday night.
The Mavericks (4-3) are 20-0 at home against the Kings (5-2) since a 126-124 Sacramento overtime victory Feb. 27, 2003. Peja Stojakovic got the best of a 24-year-old Dirk Nowitzki with both scoring 36 points.
It's the longest home winning streak in Mavericks history against an opponent. The only current longer streak is San Antonio's 31 straight against Golden State.
Sacramento's last 6-2 start came a season before its most recent victory in Dallas, as a 7-2 beginning paved the way for a 61-win 2001-02 season.
The Kings, however, saw their five-game win streak come to an end in Sunday's 101-93 loss at Oklahoma City. Sacramento trailed 56-39 in the third quarter.
"We dug ourselves a hole, man," said forward Rudy Gay, whose team lost for the first time in four road games as it made its second stop on a four-game trip. "It's a good learning experience for us - no matter who we're playing, we can't come out playing like that."
Gay's start to his first full season in Sacramento has been strong with 22.3 points per game, and he's averaged 32.3 points and 62.3 percent shooting in three contests against Dallas since joining the Kings. They've all been losses, though, as the Mavericks won three of four in last season's series.
Cousins and Ben McLemore added 16 points apiece against the Thunder, a season low for Cousins and a season high for McLemore. A second-year guard, McLemore has averaged 13.7 points and 56.0 percent from the field over his last three games after being limited to 3.8 and 26.3 percent in the first four.
Sacramento's 37 rebounds Sunday were a season low after it entered with an average of 49.2 and a margin of plus-10.4. The Kings have also been among the top defensive teams in the league in limiting opponents to 42.0 percent shooting.
Dallas has been toward the other end of that list at 47.3 and allowed Miami to connect on 55.3 percent in Sunday's 105-96 loss to open a four-game homestand. The Mavericks have dropped two of three.
"I'm concerned about how we're competing as a team," coach Rick Carlisle told the Mavs' official website. "We just have a problem right now from top to bottom with consistency. When our level of competitiveness comes up to where it should be on a consistent basis, a lot of our problems will dissipate."
Chandler Parsons has played a big part in the struggles in his first season in Dallas. The forward was held to four points and shot 1 of 9 against the Heat, and he's shot 39.1 percent in his first seven games with the team and is 2 for 20 over his last two.
He's scored 17.2 points per game and made 52.7 percent in his last six against the Kings.
Conversely, Tyson Chandler has played well in his return to the Mavs. The center had 16 points and 15 rebounds against the Heat and has averaged 15.5 and 14.0 in his past two. He's averaged 14.8 points and 14.3 boards in his last four against the Kings.
Nowitzki needs 17 points to pass Hakeem Olajuwon for ninth on the career list. He's averaged 23.5 against the Kings during the home winning streak.
