The Kings came out of the gate hot as a bull in a rodeo in Dallas and didn’t slow down, as they defeated the Mavericks 130-121 on Thursday at American Airlines Center.
Sacramento dropped a season-high 42 points in the opening quarter with 14 coming from Precious Achiuwa – which was a career high in a quarter for the six-year veteran.
Achiuwa, though, didn’t slow down after the first, as he dropped a career-high 29 points in the game.
He’s taken full advantage of his minutes since the injuries to Domantas Sabonis and rookie Dylan Cardwell. In Achiuwa’s last five games – all starts – he’s averaging 17.0 points and 9.4 rebounds per game while shooting 59.1 percent from the field.
The Kings once again got a lift from two-way guard Daeqwon Plowden, who went 7-for-7 from the field en route to tying his career high of 19 points.
“We have a good team of playmakers and understanding that they’re going to get to their spots, and they’re going to bring a lot of attention in, and now it’s just me finding windows where I can get off quick threes or even cuts to the basket or even in transition, and I think it gels well with what we have going on,” Plowden said at the podium following the victory.
The Kings’ largest lead in the game was 18 points, but the Mavericks made it interesting down the stretch, trimming the lead to two with just under two minutes left in the game.
Plowden had a thunderous dunk and a dagger 3-pointer in the closing minutes of the game to help seal the win for Sacramento.
Sacramento signed Plowden to his two-way deal this offseason. The 27-year-old, who had played just one game prior to Jan. 30, made the jump to the main roster just before the NBA trade deadline and has played in 11 of the Kings’ last 12 games.
Following the win, Plowden reflected on his time in the G-League and explained how it helped shape him to be the player that he is today.
“Above all, I appreciate the ups and the downs especially throughout the years of being in the G,” Plowden said following the game. “It’s taught me mental stability. It’s taught me stability on the court. It’s taught me patience on the court. It’s still teaching me patience to this day. I think it just goes back to appreciate all of the days that I have spent in the G and all the time that I’ve spent into my development. …
“There’s a lot of guys that are building and developing in the G-League that can go get it on any given night, it’s just that right now it’s my opportunity.”
Another player who was able to have an opportunity on Thursday night was Kings second-year guard Devin Carter, who got his second start of the season.
Carter made a mark on the offensive end in 32 minutes of action, finishing with 15 points, seven rebounds and four assists.
Carter, who was inactive when the Kings played the Memphis Grizzlies on Feb. 23 and was a DNP-CD (did not play – coach’s decision) on Wednesday night against the Houston Rockets.
The 23-year-old showed off his athleticism and also his defensive prowess on the night, tying his career-high with four steals.
Rookies Maxime Raynaud and Nique Clifford had solid nights, as well.
Raynaud finished with 22 points and six rebounds, while Clifford, who struggled from the field at just 6 for 19, stuffed the stat sheet with 13 points, eight rebounds and seven assists.
Sacramento has now won two of its last three games and will have two days off before facing the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday.
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