(Sports Network) - It was a day of firsts on Saturday for the Sacramento
Kings, who picked up their first victory on the road and first three-game
winning streak of the season.
The Kings will need all that momentum and more on Monday evening as they try
to snap a 16-game skid in Dallas against the Mavericks.
In its seventh road game of the season, Sacramento recorded a 99-80 win over
the Portland Trail Blazers on Saturday. The Kings shot just 13 percent in the
second quarter, but never trailed after halftime thanks in part to a 34-24
scoring edge in the third frame.
DeMarcus Cousins had 19 points and 12 rebounds, while John Salmons also scored
19 and dished out a season-high 11 assists. Aaron Brooks donated 14 points to
the win.
"It feels good," Salmons said about getting a road win. "We talked about that
before the game today, especially coming off two home wins."
Sacramento won the opener of its four-game road trip despite guard Tyreke
Evans sitting out for the fourth time in five games with a bruised left knee.
He is questionable for tonight.
The Kings will need all hands on deck as they try for their first victory in
Dallas since Feb. 27, 2003. They have lost 11 of their past 12 versus the
Mavericks overall.
Dallas could also be a bit shorthanded for this meeting. Still without star
forward Dirk Nowitzki because of right knee surgery, Shawn Marion sat out
Saturday's 116-109 win over the Houston Rockets because of a strained right
groin. That led to the Mavs using their 10th different starting lineup in what
was their 20th game.
O.J. Mayo led Dallas' offense with a career high-tying 40 points, 16 of those
coming in the fourth quarter when the Mavericks rallied from 11 points down
with 9:25 to play. That gave the Mavs their second straight win, third in four
games and improved them to 10-10 on the season.
"I was just focused on time and scoring," said Mayo, who hit six 3-pointers
and pulled down eight rebounds. "Trying to get to .500 was very important for
us and we got there and we have keep continuing to build off of that."
Chris Kaman added 20 points and seven boards while battling through a sprained
left ankle that limited him to just 18 1/2 minutes of action. Darren Collison
and Vince Carter donated 12 points apiece in the victory.
The Sports Network