DALLAS — DeMarcus Cousins and Rajon Rondo each recorded double-doubles and the Sacramento Kings won for the first time in Dallas in more than 13 years with a 104-101 victory Thursday at American Airlines Center.
Cousins, who had 22 points, 13 rebounds and five assists, was 13 years old the last time the Kings won on Dallas’ home floor Feb. 27, 2003. Rondo, who finished with 18 points, 12 assists and three steals, was still three years removed from his NBA debut with the Boston Celtics.
One player who was there in 2003 when Dallas started its 22-game home streak over the Kings is Mavs star Dirk Nowitzki. He hasn’t had many performances against Sacramento as poor as the one he had Thursday with 16 points — including two at the buzzer — on 7-of-16 shooting and 0 of 5 from 3-point range.
The loss ended Dallas’ season-long six-game homestand on a sour note following Tuesday’s blowout of the Orlando Magic. The Mavs (33-29) won four games on the homestand, but with the loss to the Kings (25-35) fell behind Portland into seventh place in the Western Conference playoff race.
Dallas can be grateful it pulled out an overtime win earlier in the homestand against Denver, where Dallas will next play Sunday afternoon.
A 7-0 run early in the fourth quarter provided the Kings some separation with an 80-71 lead. So many times before, Sacramento has coughed up such leads, but this time they managed to keep their offense flowing, aided by three 3-pointers and 16 points from Marco Belinelli, while also pestering Dallas with quick hands on defense, causing deflections and ultimately 15 turnovers.
Trailing 94-83 with 4:06 to go, Dallas turned to a fouling strategy, Hack-a-Rondo. But on two trips to the free throw line, Rondo made went 2-of-4 and after his first set, Cousins corralled the offensive rebound and split his own free throws to push the lead back to 13.
Free throws ultimately almost cost the Kings the game in the final minutes when the Mavericks got to within 101-97 with 28.6 seconds to go after Cousins missed two free throws that would have severely crippled Dallas’ comeback chances. Darren Collison and Belinelli, both better than 80-percent foul shooters, each made one of two to keep Dallas alive.
However, on Belinelli’s missed second free throw, the rebound squirted loose, rolled around on the floor and was finally snatched by Collison, who was fouled with 4.2 seconds to go. He made both free throws to secure the big road win and finish with 14 points.
Mavericks forward Chandler Parsons continued his torrid shooting, going 12-of-17 from the floor for a game-high 28 points. Deron Williams had 15 points and reserve forward David Lee had 12 points and 11 rebounds.
NOTES: Kings G Rajon Rondo started Thursday’s game at Dallas despite struggling with turf toe and a right thumb injury and after tweaking his right ankle late in Wednesday’s game at Memphis. Rondo is playing in Dallas for the first time since being dismissed from the Mavs during last season’s first-round playoff series against Houston. Rondo said he hopes to get cheered when announced. “I haven’t been booed in the NBA yet,” Rondo told reporters. … Kings F Rudy Gay decided to play through a sore shoulder against the Mavericks after a positive pregame workout. Coach George Karl had expressed doubt that Gay, who missed the previous two games, would play. … The Kings remain on the road through Monday with stops at San Antonio on Saturday and New Orleans. … Dallas entered the game having won 22 straight at home against the Kings, which is second only to San Antonio’s 32-game home streak against Golden State and the longest Dallas has had against one franchise. … The Mavs concluded their season-long, six-game homestand and will play Saturday at Denver before beginning a three-game homestand on Monday against the Los Angeles Clippers.