Fox, Kings ruin strong Irving debut, Doncic, 133-128

SACRAMENTO – Based on the debut, this new Mavericks show is going to be incredibly interesting.

Luka Doncic took to the court for the first time alongside Kyrie Irving as his new backcourt partner, and although the Mavericks suffered a heavy 133-128 overtime loss to the Sacramento Kings, it was a grand glimpse of what could be in store. store.

“Let’s just get this party started,” Irving said of the new union. “Let’s get on with this. Very simple. Not too much communication between us before the game. Just be yourself. This is well understood. Just communicate. We will always rely on our IQ and skill set.”

But he was “thankful” that the first batch with Luka was removed.

“While I was there, I felt really special in terms of the opportunities we had to really learn from each other,” Irving said. “Today was one of those games that could end anyway. I wish we could win but just learn from it, but it’s an exciting time.”

The Doncic-Irving combination had 55 points, 16 rebounds and 12 assists, and it was Irving’s three-pointer with 24.6 seconds left in overtime that put the Mavericks to a 127–126 lead.

But Sacramento All-Star De’Aaron Fox fouled with 18.4 seconds left to block both free throws.

Luka tried to hit a three-pointer that was well defended from his favorite spot, but it went behind the basket and Fox made two free throws with 8.3 seconds left to lock it in.

Fox had 36 points, 26 in the fourth quarter and overtime.

But Doncic, who missed the last four games with a bruised right heel, came out impressed with his new teammate’s ability.

“Amazing,” he said. “This is only our first game together, but I think it’s a lot of fun to play with this guy. He is an amazing basketball player. I think it will be very fun. I think the whole team thinks so.

“I learned that we are no longer beginners. He is an amazing basketball player. It will be a lot of fun.”

Just remember that even some of the best innovations in history started out a little slow. Think about that first airplane flight that only lasted 12 seconds?

After that, things went much better.

And when Luka and Kairi played a two-man game late into the night against the Kings, it was a clear sign of what we’re likely to see in the future.

“It’s a learning process, but I think it could be deadly for us,” Doncic said. “And I think it’s hard to protect both of us. So they will have fewer doubles, and only we (get) to work.

The view from the bench was also good.

“I thought it was good,” said trainer Jason Kidd. “This is the first time these guys have played for a few minutes together and I thought it was very, very good. It was natural. Nothing was forced.

“And I thought it was a great game for us. As much as we would like to be on the winning side, just playing late, drawing or going back and forth, understanding the dynamics of these two, being able to play each other late, I think that will make us much better. It was smooth. Now it’s just a matter of getting minutes.”

Ultimately, however, it will take a while for the new show in town to get all well-oiled.

With Doncic running the show most of the way and Irving taking over at the end of the regulation, the Mavericks had their chance. But Fox denied them every time.

Christian Wood gave the Mavericks a good spark early in the fourth quarter and then Irving and Doncic took over.

But the Kings saddled Fox hard. His theft of Luke’s slow pass to Reggie Bullock resulted in a Fox dunk and a 112–111 Kings lead with 1:35 left.

The Kings fouled Dwight Powell with 1:27 left, but the challenge was unsuccessfully contested. He equalized with the first of two free throws. He would do it again with two freebies after Fox scored for the Kings.

But when Fox’s three-pointer wasn’t close to hitting the target, overtime loomed.

The numbers were certainly impressive for the Mavericks. Luke had 27 and Irving had 28. Josh Green had 23 and Wood had 15, most in the fourth quarter to keep the Mavericks afloat.

Finishing this 10-day tour 4-1 would have been a huge blow to the Mavericks, but the Kings were clearly offended by the way they were treated 24 hours ago when the Mavericks beat them 122-114.

So the Mavericks went on a 3-2 odyssey, which is quite respectable after losing Game 1 to Golden State.

And Luka and Kairi definitely had plenty of chances to pick and roll together. The game for two was the main one for the Mavericks, in particular, in the fourth quarter.

“I think pick-and-roll with these two will do us good,” Kidd said.

Regarding Luka’s 129-126 throw with the Kings, Kidd said, “He’s going to throw hard shots and he throws a lot of them. When Kai read the situation, he gave the ball to Luca. It was a reading between Kai and LD. And for the first time, at the end of the game, I thought we did a really good job.”

Doncic said of this play: “It’s my fault. I had to return it to Kai. For me, it’s still a learning process. But it definitely needed to be returned. He was very hot in the end, so that’s definitely my credit.”

Neither side made this game late, but both threatened to do so. Each of them had several lanes, which provided a solid lead. But there was always a rally right around the corner.

It was a stark turnaround from Friday night, when the Mavericks took a 24-point lead in the first half and never looked back.

There were no early knockouts on Saturday.

But the Mavericks had every reason to be happy that they would go 3-2 on this trip and, more importantly, introduce their new superstar duo.

Twitter: @ESefko