Sacramento Kings guard DeMar DeRozan (10) takes a shots agianst the Dallas Mavericks Naji Marshall (13) at American Airlines Center in Dallas on Thu Feb 26, 2026 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

Despite a slew of additional injuries the Sacramento Kings (14-47) outlasted the Dallas Mavericks (21-37) winning 130-121. The high for the Kings went to Precious Achiuwa with 29 points, 12 rebounds for a double double.

Maxime Raynaud finished with 22 points and Devin Carter had 15 points and six rebounds. The kids took care of business when called upon. The Mavericks threatened throughout the second half and the Kings answered every time.

Game recap: The Kings have not played with their starting lineup for a single game this season due to injury. It has been a season like no other for Sacramento. Thursday night the team’s future players will take the court, players like Maxime Raynaud, Nique Clifford, and hopefully Devin Carter who did not take the court against the Rockets Wednesday night. It will no doubt be a completely new lineup for the Sacramento Kings. With Thursday’s win the Kings have now won two of their last three games.

As this game got underway the starting lineup of Precious Achiuwa, DeMar DeRozan, Maxime Raynaud, Nique Clifford and Devin Carter took the court. As time ran out on the opening quarter the Kings had taken a 42-28 lead.

Midway through the second quarter the Kings took their largest lead of the game 56-38. With four minutes left in the half the Mavericks started to turn the game around cutting the 18 point Kings lead to ten points 59-49. As the first half came to an end, the Kings were able to hang onto a double digit lead 68-56.

Once again Precious Achiuwa was doing the heavy lifting scoring 21 points with 8 rebounds. Maxime Raynaud also had double digits finishing the half with ten points and five rebounds. The team would need a lot more from veteran DeMar DeRozan who finished the half with only 5 points but we have seen him really heat up in the second half and the team would need him tonight. Drew Eubanks had nine points off the bench.

The third quarter did not go the Kings way as the Mavericks pulled to within single digits 72-69 threatening to tie up this game. Sacramento pushed back in a huge way pushing their lead back out to 16 points 91-75 with 3:47 left in the third.

The Kings went on a crazy run in the final minute of the quarter and going into the fourth quarter Sacramento had a 100-88 lead. Dallas refused to go away continuing to threaten the Kings lead setting up a wild fourth quarter.

Achiuwa continued to score as did Raynaud and Devin Carter got hot scoring 12 points with six rebounds through three. The good news for the Kings was having Monk on the floor scoring eight points through three quarters and Daeqwon Plowden also with eight points both off the bench.

Sacramento had a great start in the final quarter of the game leading 106-92 two minutes into the fourth. There was a lot of time left on the clock and the outcome of this game was still up in the air.

The Kings were showing a lot of resilience pushing back every time Dallas threatened coming uncomfortably close in the third quarter. With under seven minutes left in the game, the Mavericks again threatened trailing by only five points 105-110.

Could Sacramento continue to push back? With 4 1/2 minutes left in this game the Kings continued to push back leading 118-109. This game had turned into a real nail-biter. With three minutes left it was a 3-point Sacramento lead 118-115 and the race for the finish line had begun. It was a crazy finish but the Sacramento Kings held on for the win 130-121.

Precious Achiuwa had the team high with a double double 29 points and 12 rebounds. Maxime Raynaud had a terrific game with 22 points and Devin Carer finished with 15 points and seven rebounds. Nique Clifford also had double digits scoring 13 points with eight rebounds. Off the bench Daeqwon Plowden had the high with 19 points and four rebounds. It was a great game for the team tirelessly keeping the Mavericks from taking the lead for the majority of the game.

Game notes: Wednesday night the Kings took a beating at the hands of the Rockets 128-97. Thursday night they came back and defeated the Mavericks in a game the Kings felt they could handle. Of course it is common knowledge that Sacramento has lost three of their starters but it doesn’t stop there with the season-ending injuries to Zach LaVine, Domantas Sabonis and De’Andre Hunter.

In Thursday nights game, both Russell Westbrook and Keegan Murray were out. Westbrook who has been playing some stellar ball is out with a right thigh contusion. Murray will be out for an extended period with a re-aggravated left ankle sprain. He had previously missed 20 games with this same injury.

There could possibly be more bad news for the Kings with Malik Monk who was questionable with an ankle injury but played against the Mavericks for 19 minutes. The Mavericks have numerous injuries of their own with Kyrie Irving, Cooper Flagg, Dereck Lively lll and P.J. Washington all ruled out. The Mavericks come into this game having won back-to-back games over the Indiana Pacers and the Brooklyn Nets.

The Kings will now get some time off not taking the court until Sunday kicking off the month of March. They will remain on the road taking on Luca Doncic, LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers at crypto.com Arena. Tipoff for that game is scheduled for 6:30 PM.

Whether you’re pre-gaming with the Kings or celebrating an A’s win, Cyprus Grille at the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena is your downtown go-to.

⚡Craft cocktails? Check.
🔥Game-day bites? Oh yeah.
🏟️Steps from Golden 1 Center? You bet.

Open daily, Cyprus Grille is serving up local flavor with a front-row seat to the action. Stop by before or after the game—or make it your new downtown hangout.

Cyprus Grille—where fans fuel up.

📍Located inside the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena @ 300 J Street

Happy Hour – 4pm-6pm

Show your ticket for additional discounts when dining in.