DALLAS - Tyreke Evans looked like the best player on the floor a lot tonight but the Dallas Mavericks were the better team and had just enough to get by the Kings.
The Mavs (10-3) used a balanced attack to overcome another solid game from the Kings' rookie to beat Sacramento 104-102 at American Airlines Center.
Evans finished with 29 points, nine rebounds and seven assists. But five Mavs scored in double figures, led by Dirk Nowitzki's 20 points. Nowitzki also had seven assists. Jason Kidd had 15 points and 11 assists for Dallas. Jason Terry had 10 points off the bench for the Mavs.
Beno Udrih had 20 points and five assists for Sacramento (5-6). Jason Thompson added 18 points and eight rebounds.
--Jason Jones
DALLAS -More than once it looked as if the Mavs were about to blow out the Kings but that's not the case. Dallas leads Sacramento 68-65 at the end of the third quarter.
The Mavs were up by as many as 10, but the play of Tyreke Evans (16 points, nine assists) is keeping Sacramento in the game.
Jason Thompson has 16 points through three quarters and Andres Nocioni has 12 points for the Kings.
Dirk Nowitzki has 14 points for the Mavs. Drew Gooden already has 15 rebounds for Dallas.
--Jason Jones
DALLAS - The Kings held a five-point lead at one point during the second quarter but couldn't maintain the advantage and trail the Mavs 47-42 at halftime.
Jaosn Thompson has 10 points to lead the Kings. Tyreke Evans has eight points and six assists. Kenny Thompson came off the bench to grab seven rebounds.
Kris Humphries' 10 points off the bench lead Dallas. Drew Gooden has 10 rebounds for the Mavs.
The Mavs are shooting only 40.4 percent but have nine points off 12 Sacramento turnovers.
--Jason Jones
DALLAS - The Kings overcame an early 7-0 deficit less than two minutes in to the ame to take a 24-22 lead over the Dallas Mavericks after the first quarter.
Jason Thompson had eight points to lead the Kings, but he picked up two fouls. Defense led the comeback for the Kings. They scored eight points off five Dallas turnovers. Dallas had eight offensive rebounds, but didn't do a lot with the extra chances, shooting 9 of 28.
Dirk Nowitzki led Dallas with seven points.
--Jason Jones
About Comments
Reader comments on Sacbee.com are the opinions of the writer, not The Sacramento Bee. If you see an objectionable comment, click the "report abuse" button below it. We will delete comments containing inappropriate links, obscenities, hate speech, and personal attacks. Flagrant or repeat violators will be banned. See more about comments here.