Kings Beat Mavericks 115-100 Behind Acuff’s 25 Points

The Sacramento Kings defeated the Dallas Mavericks 115-100 on Monday, November 2, 2026, at American Airlines Center, with Darius Acuff Jr. leading all scorers with 25 points. Malik Monk added 24 points and seven assists as Sacramento earned its first win of the season, pulling away after halftime.

Quarter-by-Quarter Breakdown

First Quarter: Kings Take a Narrow Lead

Neither team reached 20 points in the opening period. Sacramento finished the quarter ahead 19-18, establishing a slim advantage before both offenses increased their production in the second.

Second Quarter: Teams Match Each Other With 35 Points

The Kings and Mavericks each scored 35 points in the second quarter, leaving Sacramento ahead 54-53 at halftime. Dallas stayed within a point, but the home team could not turn the high-scoring period into an advantage entering the break.

Third Quarter: Sacramento Creates Separation

Sacramento outscored Dallas 27-21 in the third, extending its lead to 81-74. That six-point difference gave the Kings more breathing room after a tightly contested first half and put the Mavericks seven points behind entering the final period.

Fourth Quarter: Kings Finish With 34 Points

The Kings delivered their second-highest-scoring quarter of the night, outpacing Dallas 34-26 to complete the 115-100 victory in regulation. Sacramento won the second half 61-47, turning its one-point halftime lead into a 15-point final margin.

Key Performers

• Darius Acuff Jr., Kings: Led all scorers with 25 points, providing Sacramento’s highest individual scoring total.
• Malik Monk, Kings: Contributed 24 points and a team-high seven assists, combining scoring with playmaking.
• Precious Achiuwa, Kings: Collected a game-high 10 rebounds as Sacramento finished with a 42-35 advantage on the boards.
• Daniel Gafford, Mavericks: Led Dallas with 20 points and seven rebounds.
• Naji Marshall, Mavericks: Recorded a team-high seven assists, matching Monk’s total.

NerdSports Stat: Sacramento’s 12 extra made three-pointers produced a 36-point advantage from beyond the arc—more than twice its 15-point winning margin.

Game Analysis: Three-Point Shooting Makes the Difference

Sacramento’s perimeter efficiency was the clearest statistical separator. The Kings made 19 of 43 three-point attempts, shooting 44.2%, while Dallas finished 7-for-33, or 21.2%. Sacramento attempted 10 more threes and made 12 more, creating a substantial scoring advantage from distance.

The difference extended to overall shooting. Sacramento converted 43 of 82 field-goal attempts for 52.4%, compared with Dallas’ 32-for-78 performance, or 41.0%. The Kings also recorded 25 assists to the Mavericks’ 19 and secured seven more rebounds.

Dallas had a significant advantage at the free-throw line, making 29 of 35 attempts for 82.9%. Sacramento went 10-for-15, or 66.7%. Those 19 additional free-throw points helped the Mavericks, but they could not offset the Kings’ stronger production from the field.

Acuff and Monk combined for 49 points, giving Sacramento two leading contributors who nearly matched half of Dallas’ entire scoring output. With the Kings increasing their advantage in both quarters after halftime, their shooting edge translated into a decisive second-half result.

What the Result Means

Sacramento improved to 1-6 overall and 1-4 on the road, earning its first victory of the season. Dallas fell to 4-3 overall and 2-2 at home. Both Western Conference teams return to action Wednesday, November 4: the Mavericks host the San Antonio Spurs at 6:30 p.m. PST, while the Kings host the Los Angeles Lakers at 7 p.m. PST.

Frequently Asked Questions