Sacramento Kings head coach Doug Christie goes over the floor chart. Christie picked up his first win as Kings head coach against the Dallas Mavericks at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento on Mon Dec 30, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

SACRAMENTO–Game two of the Doug Christie era took center stage at the Golden 1 Center on Monday night. The Kings hosted the Dallas Mavericks, aiming to snap a six-game losing streak at home. The Mavericks were shorthanded, missing key players Luka Dončić, Kyrie Irving, Klay Thompson, and Dereck Lively due to injuries or illness. The Kings defeated the Mavericks 110-100 on Thursday at home.

The first quarter saw the Kings caught off guard as P.J. Washington stepped up in the absence of Dallas’s star players. Washington dominated, scoring an impressive 19 points in the opening quarter. The Kings appeared disorganized and overmatched in the second game of the Doug Christie era. They were outscored 37-23 in the first quarter, quickly falling into a deep hole. De’Aaron Fox led the Kings’ efforts with eight points in the period.

In the second quarter, the Kings rallied early, clawing their way back to take the lead at 45-44 with 5:10 remaining in the half. The Mavericks’ offense cooled off, while the Kings found their rhythm. Despite the comeback, the Kings couldn’t hold their lead heading into halftime. They outscored the Mavericks 33-23 in the second quarter, but Dallas still held a narrow 60-56 advantage at the break. P.J. Washington led all scorers at halftime with 21 points, while De’Aaron Fox paced the Kings with 15 points.

The third quarter marked a turning point for the Kings. They elevated their play, overtaking the Mavericks as their shooting significantly improved. Outscoring Dallas 27-17 in the quarter, the Kings entered the fourth with an 83-77 lead. De’Aaron Fox continued to shine, leading the Kings with 23 points by the end of the period. Washington remained the game’s top scorer with 28 points. The Kings’ increased physicality and determination were instrumental in their third-quarter surge.

Building on their momentum, the Kings closed out the game strong in the fourth quarter. They maintained their intensity, sealing a 110-100 victory and snapping their six-game losing streak. The Kings outscored the Mavericks 27-23 in the final quarter. De’Aaron Fox finished as the game’s leading scorer with 33 points, while Spencer Dinwiddie led the Mavericks with 30 points in defeat. The win improved the Kings’ record to 14-19, while the Mavericks fell to 20-13 on the season.

Postgame, Doug Christie, along with Domas Sabonis and Malik Monk, each echoed the sentiment that the team “badly” needed this win.

Up Next: The Kings remain at home to face the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday night at 7 PM PST.