‘More Hungry Than Us’: Dallas Mavericks Say They Played To Sacramento Kings’ Record In 115-100 Loss

DALLAS — The Sacramento Kings had given up 128.3 points per game while losing their first six games of the season. On Monday night at American Airlines Center, they held the Dallas Mavericks to 100 points and won 115-100.

Two Mavericks said afterward that Dallas played to the Kings’ record. Guard Walter Clayton Jr., who scored 20 points off the bench, said Sacramento won the rebounding battle and too many 50-50 balls.

“I think, just being honest, I think they were more hungry than us tonight,” Clayton said. “I think we kind of played to that record. We didn’t play up to our abilities. Lost the rebounding battle. A lot of 50-50s. So I think we just got to come out with more energy.”

Sacramento finished with a 42-35 edge on the glass and an 11-7 advantage in fast-break points. The Kings shot 52.4% from the field and made 19 of their 43 attempts from three. Dallas forced 20 turnovers but led for only 14 seconds after halftime.

In transition, Sacramento scored 0.929 points per possession to Dallas’ 0.667, according to play-type tracking data reviewed by Dallas Sports Journal.

P.J. Washington scored 12 points on 2-of-9 shooting and finished a minus-13 in 37 minutes, 38 seconds. Center Daniel Gafford said Sacramento played harder than Dallas from start to finish.

“Not necessarily. I feel like just the energy was a little low,” Gafford said. “I feel like we started off good, and just kind of, like, throughout the course of the game, we were, yeah, having plays here and there where it’s like our energy wasn’t into it. P.J. said it a lot in the locker room. He was like, ‘We played their record tonight,’ 100%.”

“And they came in with the mindset to just, it doesn’t matter their record,” Gafford continued. “They came in and they played like pros tonight.”

Daniel Gafford Says Dallas Mavericks Cannot Let A Record Fool Them

Sacramento’s six losses included a 31-point defeat at Memphis two nights earlier and a 27-point loss at San Antonio on Oct. 27. Dallas had won three straight, beating Miami, Oklahoma City, and Houston, before Monday.

When shots stopped falling, the Mavericks let go of the rope at times, Gafford said. He put some of the communication on himself.

“We can’t let the record fool us at the end of the day,” Gafford explained. “They were coming in with a fire lit up under their tail, so it’s like we have to be ready for anything. And that’s exactly, I feel like we kind of, there was times where shots didn’t fall. I feel like we kind of let go of the rope in those situations. So it’s just, we just have to stick with it.”

“Communication could have been better from probably me in certain areas, communicating to the guys that we’re feeling like shots weren’t falling, so it’s like, what else can I do?” Gafford detailed. “But talking to the guys when that stuff happens, it’s just ways we can find ways to keep making impacts for the game. If your shot’s not falling, we can get a stop on defense. If you come down, you can make a layup or something. So it’s just, we just have to get over that slump.”

“I have the same thing. A shot doesn’t fall for me. I mess up on a play. When it comes to the offensive side, defensive side, sometimes we get in our own head,” Gafford added. “But self-doubt is one of the most contagious things when it comes to any team in the league. One shot doesn’t fall. One guy has his head down, the next shot doesn’t fall, another guy does it. So it’s just like we have to find ways to get past that. And I feel like we’re going to, we responded the right way time and time again when it came to games that we’ve lost. So I feel like we’re going to be okay.”

The Mavericks went 7-of-33 from three. They also played without Kyrie Irving, who sat with left knee injury management, and lost Max Christie to a right hip injury in the second quarter.

Dusty May, Gafford Turn To San Antonio Spurs

Mavericks coach Dusty May called Sacramento the more determined and more prepared team. Dallas did little well in any area Monday, coaching included, in May’s assessment, and the Kings found great connection in the fourth quarter.

“Like a win or a loss, we’re going to look back at our process,” May said. “And just see, did we do, did we prepare the right way? Did we have the right game plan? What would we do differently next time? And we’ll have several learning experiences from this game.”

“We do have a young team, and when it’s not going well, we just kept stressing, everything’s going poorly for us, but let’s just find a way to hang around and get it to the end,” May continued. “But their shot-making prevented us from doing that. Those guys, they found great connection, especially in the fourth quarter, and found some matchups, and I thought they played unselfish basketball.”

Sacramento outscored Dallas 34-26 in the fourth quarter and made 8 of its 11 three-point attempts in the period.

The Mavericks know what they need to do to get better, Gafford said, and the next chance comes in two days against the San Antonio Spurs.

“We let this hurt until midnight, and we focus on the next one,” Gafford said. “Keep it pushing. We’ve got a big game coming up in two days. Playing a good Spurs team. Can’t really dwell on this too much. We know the things that we need to do to get better. And I feel like our response to this one is going to dictate how this season is going to go for us, for sure.”

San Antonio beat Dallas 122-106 at American Airlines Center on Oct. 24. The rematch is Wednesday at Frost Bank Center, with tip-off at 8:30 p.m. CT on ESPN. Sacramento hosts the Los Angeles Lakers the same night.