FINAL
Mavericks 117, Kings 112
Playing without an ejected DeMarcus Cousins for the final minute of overtime, the Kings dropped their third consecutive game -- one they led by 17 points in the third quarter.
The Kings trailed 111-109 when Cousins got tangled up with Vince Carter going for a loose ball. Cousins apparently contacted the face of Carter, who went to the ground along with Cousins.
Cousins was called for a flagrant foul 1. Officials reviewed the play and upgraded it to a flagrant foul 2 and automatic ejection. It would have been Cousins' sixth foul regardless.
After a missed free throw by Dallas, the Kings in-bounded the ball with 15 seconds left down 115-112. But Isaiah Thomas -- whose three-pointer in regulation forced overtime -- took a nearly identical shot that came up well short.
O.J. Mayo made two free-throws to ice the game for the Mavericks.
Cousins led all scorers with 29 points and added nine rebounds and four assists. Thomas had 18 points and Tyreke Evans had 20 points and seven rebounds off the bench.
Mayo led Dallas with 24 points and added 10 rebounds. Shawn Marion had 19 points and 10 rebounds and Carter had 23 points.
FOURTH QUARTER
Kings 101, Mavericks 101
The Kings blew a 17-point third-quarter lead but hit two big three-pointers in the final minute to send this game into overtime.
The Mavericks chipped away until they took the lead at 94-93 with 2:15 left on an O.J. Mayo lay-up off a Kings turnover. Vince Carter had 15 points in the quarter, going often into the paint at DeMarcus Cousins after Cousins picked up his fifth foul.
With 48.7 seconds left, John Salmons hit a three-pointer to pull the Kings within 100-98. Salmons tried to tie the game with 16.3 left on a pull-up jumper but was called for an offensive foul.
Mayo made one of two free throws to give Dallas a 101-98 lead. Isaiah Thomas then hit a contested three-pointer falling down to tie the game with 9.1 seconds left.
Dallas missed a short jumper at the buzzer.
Cousins has 25 points for the Kings.
THIRD QUARTER
Kings 78, Mavericks 68
With Dirk Nowitzki (4-of-16) epitomizing the Mavericks' cold shooting, the Kings take a 10-point lead into the fourth quarter behind 19 points from DeMarcus Cousins and 15 from Isaiah Thomas.
The Kings have made the most of the shots they've taken from inside the three-point arc. They are 4-of-17 from long range and 23-of-36 from inside the arc.
Francisco Garcia also has 13 points for the Kings.
Tyreke Evans, in his second game back from a knee injury, has played 18 minutes off the bench and scored nine points.
Three different players have a team-high 11 points for Dallas -- Nowitzki, Shawn Marion and Vince Carter.
HALFTIME
Kings 49, Mavericks 42
The Kings overcame seven turnovers in the second quarter to maintain a lead at halftime. They can thank their hot shooting (51.3 percent) for that. DeMarcus Cousins has 12 points, three rebounds and three assists for the Kings. Isaiah Thomas has 11 points and Tyreke Evans scored nine points, all in the second quarter.
*The Kings good shooting didn't extend beyond the three-point line, where they have missed 11 of 12.
*The Mavericks continue to struggle on offense, shooting 35.6 percent.
*The Kings have outscored the Mavericks 28-14 in the paint. The Kings also have 15 fastbreak points.
FIRST QUARTER
Kings 25, Mavericks 23
DeMarcus Cousins has 12 points and two rebounds to lead the Kings, who opened the game shooting 57.9 percent (11 of 19). Isaiah Thomas has seven points for the Kings. Shawn Marion has five points and five rebounds to lead the Mavs.
*Tyereke Evans played four minutes in the first quarter after not playing most of the first half in his first game back from his knee injury Monday. Evans didn't take a shot but had a rebound.
*Marcus Thornton is dressed for the game after missing the previous five with a sprained left ankle.
*The Kings missed all six of their three pointers in the quarter.
*Dallas shot just 36.4 percent in the quarter.
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