Precious Achiuwa’s career night lifts Kings past Mavs
Precious Achiuwa posted a career-high 29 points to lead the Sacramento Kings to a 130-121 win over the host Dallas Mavericks on Thursday.
Achiuwa shot 13 of 19 from the field, including 3 of 3 from 3-point range, and had 12 rebounds.
Maxime Raynaud scored 22 points and Daeqwon Plowden added 19 off the bench.
Naji Marshall racked up a season-best 36 points to go with 10 boards for Dallas, which fell short of a third successive victory.
Khris Middleton contributed 17 and Brandon Williams had 16 as the Mavericks, who at one stage trailed by 18, were left to rue a ragged 21-of-34 clip from the foul line and a lopsided 18-5 turnover count.
Williams' three-point play with 1:56 left trimmed the Kings' lead to 123-121, but it would be the home side's last score.
Achiuwa replied with a putback, which brought up his new personal-best haul, then Plowden buried a 3 to make it 128-121.
Achiuwa blocked Marshall's drive before Nique Clifford converted a layup in the final stages.
Achiuwa had 14 points and seven boards in the opening frame to set a fast early tempo for Sacramento.
Marshall had 13 points on perfect 5-of-5 shooting, but the Kings remained in control.
They went on separate 11-1 and 12-2 runs to lead decisively after one, 42-28, after having no turnovers for the quarter and owning a 6-1 advantage on the offensive glass.
Sacramento's cushion swelled to 56-38 before Marshall spearheaded a Dallas rally to reduce the difference to 68-56 at halftime.
Marshall had 23 first-half points while Achiuwa's total at the main interval was 21.
The Mavericks got hot and got stops early in the third quarter, using an 11-0 spree to slash the margin to 72-69.
The Kings called a timeout and went on an 11-2 burst of their own and led 89-73 before Dallas reduced it to 100-88 with one quarter to play.
Marshall spearheaded a 12-0, two-minute surge to open the fourth as the Mavs clawed back to within 110-105.