AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli

By Jeff Hall

SACRAMENTO­–

The Mavericks had lost two straight games heading into Sacramento and it took an overtime battle to steal a victory from the Kings 108 – 104, in OT. The credit for the win goes to Rajon Rondo after he nailed a three point shot with 1 minute remaining to give the Mavericks a 2 point lead and it was a lead  that the Mavericks would not give up.

Rondo had a total of 21 points in the game.

Both teams began the game shooting well in the early minutes of the first quarter. Monta Ellis led the way for the Mavericks scoring 10 points in the first quarter. Ellis was two for two from the 3-point line. His hot shooting from beyond the arc lulled Dallas into a false sense of security with the three point shot and Dallas began slowing down offensively when they began going aggressively for the three point shot and were four of 12 from beyond the three point line .  DeMarcus Cousins led the Kings in scoring in the first with 14 points. The Kings did spread the scoring out evenly as a team in the first.

Dallas outscored The Kings in the second quarter 31-30 but the Kings hung onto a 63-60 lead. The Kings held Dirk Nowitzki to just eight points in the first half. The Kings turned the ball over five times in the second quarter that led to eight Dallas points. Cousins scored 20 points with six rebounds in the first half. The Kings shot well in the first half shooting 68 percent from the field. in the first half.

Turnovers became a problem early in the third quarter reducing the Kings lead. The Kings seemed to be fired up After Cousins was called for his third foul, he followed by coming away with a steal and making an long pass above the rim to Derrick Williams for a dramatic dunk electrifying the response from the crowd of 15, 747 at Sleep Train Arena.

Cousins had another impressive game Leading the Kings in scoring with 32 points, 16 rebounds and nine assist.  In most games this season the Kings have been riding on the back of Cousins, but this game was a definite team effort on both the offensive and defensive end and despite losing the game, it could be one of the best games the Kings have played this season despite the turnovers.

“Our guys fought hard, they did a good job of competing. We turned the ball over 20 times with 27 points in the ball game. I can’t say enough about the way our guys played in the ball game.” Said Kings Head coach Tyrone Corbin who’s team is now 5-9 since he has taken over the Kings Head Coaching position.

The game was sent into overtime after a questionable foul call by NBA Official Lauren HoltKamp. HoltKamp called the sixth and final foul on Cousins for an offensive foul in the fourth quarter.  When Coach Corbin was asked about the call and if he believed there was a foul, he responded, “You take a look at it and tell me.”

The Kings were also without Rudy Gay their second-leading scorer, late in the first quarter with a left knee strain  Kings Coach Tyrone Corbin said ” I was going to call Rudy into play, it was then I realized he was not on the bench and he had gone into the locker room to have the knee examined by a trainer.”

Dallas was led offenively by the play of Monta Elis who scored 28 points and 10 assists. Nowitzki finished with 15 points.

Up next for the Kings will host the Miami Heat on Friday at Sleep Train Arena. The Mavericks head to Denver to face the Nuggets tomorrow night.