BY EMMANUEL OGBONNA
Russell Westbrook delivered a milestone performance Saturday night, scoring 21 points and moving past Magic Johnson for seventh place on the NBA’s all-time assists list as the Sacramento Kings defeated the Dallas Mavericks 113–107.
Westbrook added five rebounds and nine assists, bringing his career total to 10,149 and pushing him eight ahead of Johnson on the historic list. At 37, the veteran guard also continued his steady climb up the league’s scoring ranks, moving within nine points of tying Dominique Wilkins for 19th place all time. His leadership helped Sacramento snap out of recent struggles and earn its third victory in 13 games.
The Kings appeared in control for much of the night but had to withstand a late push from Dallas. The Mavericks cut the deficit to 111–107 with nine seconds remaining before DeMar DeRozan calmly knocked down two free throws to secure the win.
Sacramento received balanced scoring throughout the lineup. Keon Ellis matched Westbrook with 21 points, drilling five 3-pointers and setting the tone offensively. Maxime Raynaud added 19 points, Dennis Schroder chipped in 10, and rookie guard Nique Clifford contributed eight points and nine rebounds off the bench. The victory improved the Kings to 8–23 and marked their fourth consecutive win over Dallas.
The Mavericks, who fell to 12–21, were led by Cooper Flagg, who finished with 23 points, six rebounds and five assists, though his five turnovers proved costly. P.J. Washington added 17 points and four blocks, while Klay Thompson scored 14. Dallas has now dropped four of its last five games.
Sacramento built its advantage early, fueled by Ellis, who poured in 13 points in the first quarter to help the Kings open up a double-digit lead. Dallas briefly cut the margin to eight, but Sacramento responded by stretching the lead back out midway through the second quarter and went into halftime ahead 59–44.
The Kings faced some adversity after the break, giving up much of an 18-point cushion. They steadied themselves in the third quarter with a decisive 20–10 run highlighted by four made 3-pointers. Ellis hit two from beyond the arc during the surge and scored eight points in the period, helping Sacramento regain control.
Under coach Doug Christie, who initially took over on an interim basis following Mike Brown’s dismissal last December, the Kings have now posted a 35–48 record. While the season has been uneven, performances like Saturday’s offered a glimpse of the team’s potential when its veterans and young contributors click together.
Dallas will look to rebound when it visits the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday night. Sacramento, meanwhile, heads to Los Angeles to face the Lakers on Sunday, carrying momentum from a win that combined individual history with a much-needed result in the standings.
Original article
Comments