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 The Mavericks (37-39) used a 41-point second quarter to gain control of a game they desperately needed. They came in three games behind the Lakers in the chase for the eighth and final playoff berth in the Western Conference.
Dallas, which scored 99 points over the final three quarters, swept all four games from the Kings this season and has defeated Sacramento in 15 of last 16 meetings.
Isaiah Thomas had 29 points and Tyreke Evans added 26 points and nine rebounds for the Kings, who dropped their third straight game. Jason Thompson had 16 points and 16 rebounds.
Reserve Brandan Wright had 20 points for Dallas, which outscored the Kings bench 49-24. Darren Collison contributed 18 points and eight assists, and Dirk Nowitzki added 16 points.
DeMarcus Cousins, Sacramento's leading scorer and rebounder, was replaced in the starting lineup by Patrick Patterson for unknown reasons. Cousins entered the game at the start of the second quarter and finished with six points in nine minutes.
Dallas has made the playoffs 12 straight seasons dating to 1999-00, which was Nowitzki's second season.
Just getting back into the playoff hunt has been a major effort for Dallas. The Mavericks had an 11-10 record after beating the Kings on Dec. 10. But over the next month they dropped 13 of 15 games and had a 13-23 record on Feb. 9.
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Vince Carter passed off to Wright early in second quarter for his 4,000th career assist. Carter, who had six assists in the first half, became the 15th player in NBA history to amass 22,000 points, 5,000 rebounds and 4,000 assists.
Trailing by nine points entering the fourth quarter, the Kings went on a quick 9-2 run to close the gap to 94-90. After a timeout, the Mavericks responded, running off nine straight points for a 103-90 lead with 8:27 left.
After a huge second-quarter output, the Mavericks followed up with a strong third quarter. Marion scored mostly from close range on floaters and had 13 points in the third when the Mavericks built their lead to 92-81.
Nowitzki scored nine of his 11 first-half points in the second quarter, when the Mavericks outscored the Kings 41-26. Collison also had nine points in the second for Dallas, which took a 59-53 lead into the half.
Thomas had 15 points, Evans scored 11, and Thompson had nine points and 11 rebounds in the opening half for the Kings.
NOTES: Kings forward John Salmons made a 3-pointer in the first quarter to break out of an extended scoreless streak. He had zero points in 38 minutes Wednesday against Houston. . Thomas ended the first quarter with a 15-foot floater at the buzzer that gave the Kings a 27-18 lead. . Mavericks veteran forward Elton Brand missed his second straight game with a sore right calf that has bothered him all week. . The Kings have lost four straight at home, where they own a 19-19 record.
[Associated
Press]
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