Kings G Rondo sidelined in 1st Dallas trip since Mavs split

Regardless, this game deserved a buzzer-beater to end it.

Jokes about his spine or (lack thereof) being the lowest of the proverbial low-hanging fruit at this point, we’re willing to give him the benefit of the doubt, despite the fact that most players in his situation would be licking their chops at the chance to go out and have a monster game against their former team given their history.

Dallas coach Rick Carlisle cited a back injury while saying he didn’t think Rondo would play for the Mavericks again two games into a five-game playoff loss to the Rockets last April.

But even though they knew they had a game tonightWednesday in New Orleans, the Mavs didn’t fold the tent.

DeMarcus Cousins had a double-double of 35 points and 17 rebounds for the Kings.

ATLANTA – Arron Afflalo and Carmelo Anthony scored 23 points apiece and NY defeated Atlanta for the second time in three days.

Williams, by the way, had an awesome second overtime. Then the Kings had a shot clock violation with two seconds left. And with just one flick of his wrist, Williams released the ball, which seemingly hung in the air forever, before it nestled through the net just as the final buzzer went off. “It definitely felt good”.

Sacramento Kings guard Darren Collison (7) drives against Dallas Mavericks guard Deron Williams during the first half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2016, in Dallas.

Marco Belinelli missed plenty of wide open jumpers on the night, but his two huge 3-pointers in the final minute of the regulation kept the Kings breathing.

For Dallas, Deron Williams is listed as questionable with a hamstring injury (per ESPN). With a Kings team hungry for spacing and three point shooting, a consistent Ben McLemore could go a long ways in buoying the Kings on the nights where one of the Big Three aren’t producing.

Wesley Matthews added 20 for the Mavericks.

Jimmy Butler had 32 points and 10 assists to lead Chicago past Milwaukee. The Mavericks needed all the help they could muster on a night in which Parsons wasn’t available down the stretch. “Credit to those guys for coming in and stepping up”, said Cousins.

Actually, Cousins was called for a foul on the play. They were 0-8 on the season in the second night of a back-to-back.