Tipoff is scheduled for 8:30 PM ET
Venue: American Airlines Center, Dallas, TX
TV/Streaming: KFAA / WFAA (Mavericks local), NBCS-CA (Kings local), NBA League Pass
Game Context
Two of the Western Conference’s bottom feeders clash in Dallas, with the Mavericks trying to build momentum on a three-game homestand while the Kings limp through a brutal back-to-back road set in Texas (they were blown out 128-97 at Houston on Wednesday). Sacramento owns the league’s worst (or near-worst) record and is in full tank mode for lottery positioning. Dallas, despite its own injuries and inconsistency, has shown recent signs of life with bench production stepping up. This is a matchup between depleted rosters where offense could flow freely against shaky defenses.
Injury Report
Sacramento Kings
- Out (season-ending): Zach LaVine (hand), Domantas Sabonis (knee), De’Andre Hunter (eye).
- Questionable: Keegan Murray (left ankle – exited Wednesday’s game early on the same ankle that caused him to miss 20 games earlier; status very much in doubt). Devin Carter (back – played Wednesday but monitored).
Dallas Mavericks
- Out: Kyrie Irving (left knee surgery – season), Dereck Lively II (right foot surgery), Cooper Flagg (left midfoot sprain – 5th consecutive game missed), P.J. Washington (left ankle sprain).
- Questionable / GTD: Khris Middleton (right shoulder stinger – exited Tuesday early), Daniel Gafford (right ankle – injury management).
- Multiple G-League assignments/questionable (Moussa Cisse, Miles Kelly, Ryan Nembhard).
Both teams are severely shorthanded, especially in the frontcourt (no Sabonis for Kings, no Lively/Flagg/Washington for Mavs).
Probable Starting Lineups
Sacramento Kings (subject to Murray/Carter status)
- PG: Russell Westbrook
- SG: DeMar DeRozan / Malik Monk rotation
- SF: Keegan Murray (if active) or wing rotation
- PF: Precious Achiuwa / Nique Clifford
- C: Maxime Raynaud (rookie stepping up with Sabonis out)
Dallas Mavericks (subject to Gafford/Middleton)
- PG: Brandon Williams
- SG: Max Christie / Klay Thompson
- SF: Naji Marshall
- PF: Marvin Bagley III (expected heavy minutes if Gafford out) / Khris Middleton (if active)
- C: Daniel Gafford (if active) or Bagley
Key bench: Mavericks – Klay Thompson, Marvin Bagley III (recent 22-pt outburst); Kings – Malik Monk, veterans carrying heavy loads.
Recent Team Form
Kings (13-47): 1-9 in last 10, 4-27 on the road. Crushed 128-97 at Houston on Wednesday (Russell Westbrook 22 pts early, but team collapsed). They rank near the bottom in scoring (110.1 PPG, 29th) and defense (121.1 PPG allowed, 28th). Back-to-back fatigue plus fresh Murray injury makes this a tough spot.
Mavericks (21-36): Mixed but improving—won 2 straight after a 10-game skid (capped by 123-114 road win at Brooklyn on Tuesday, with 76 first-half points). However, they enter on a 5-game home losing skid. Bench has carried them lately (Bagley, Williams, Thompson). Scoring 114.4 PPG (21st), allowing 117.6 (21st). Home record 14-16.
Key Player Matchups
- Naji Marshall / Max Christie (Mavericks) vs. DeMar DeRozan / Russell Westbrook (Kings): Marshall (15.2 PPG, efficient) and Christie lead a revamped Mavs attack. DeRozan (18.6 PPG) and Westbrook (15.3 PPG, 6.3 APG) are the Kings’ veteran engines but face fatigue on B2B.
- Marvin Bagley III / Daniel Gafford (if active) vs. Maxime Raynaud / Precious Achiuwa: Massive frontcourt advantage for Dallas if Gafford plays; Bagley has feasted recently (22 pts vs. Nets). Kings lack rim protection without Sabonis.
- Klay Thompson / Brandon Williams vs. Malik Monk: Thompson’s shooting and Williams’ playmaking (10 assists Tuesday) could exploit Sacramento’s poor perimeter D.
Series History
Mavericks have dominated recently, winning the last several meetings (including 100-98 in January 2026). Kings have occasionally covered as big underdogs but rarely win outright against Dallas in this era.
Betting Trends
- Mavericks 5-5 ATS last 10; Kings 4-6 ATS last 10.
- Mavericks have not covered as 6.5+ favorites in limited tries this season.
- Overs hit in roughly 47% of both teams’ games, but models lean Under due to pace/defense in depleted matchups.
- Kings are a dismal 10-54 as underdogs this season (18.5% win rate). Mavericks 50% ATS as moneyline favorites.
Game Odds
Sacramento Kings 236.5
Dallas Mavericks – 6.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Wednesday, February 25, 2026
