Kings vs. Mavericks: Malik Monk’s shooting slump, playoff race, scouting reports, injuries

The Kings fell from sixth to eighth in the Western Conference over the past 48 hours, but they have a chance to reclaim the No. 6 seed with a win over the Dallas Mavericks on Friday at Golden 1 Center.

The Kings had won four of five and six of their last eight with a much-improved defense before getting lit up in a 132-96 loss to the Mavericks on Tuesday in the first game of a two-game set.

The Mavericks (43-29) are now sixth in the West, a half-game ahead of the Phoenix Suns and one game ahead of the Kings. If the Kings (42-30) beat the Mavericks and the Suns lose to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday, the Kings and Mavericks will be tied for sixth in the West, but Sacramento will hold the tiebreaker with a 3-1 advantage in the season series.

The Kings are listing Sasha Vezenkov as questionable as he nears a return from a grade-3 ankle sprain. Kevin Huerter (shoulder) and Trey Lyles (knee) are out.

The Mavericks are listing Luka Doncic (Achilles) and Maxi Kleber (knee) as questionable. Josh Green (ankle) is out.

The top six teams in the West will earn automatic playoff berths. The next four teams will have to fight their way in through the play-in tournament. For the Kings to secure their bid, they will need to get Malik Monk going and get back to playing solid defense.

Scouting Sacramento

The Kings were fourth in the NBA in defensive rating (108.9) in the month of March before giving up 132 points in Tuesday’s loss to the Mavericks. The Kings held their previous 13 opponents to 35.3% shooting from 3-point range, but the Mavericks hit 22 of 39 (.564) from long distance.

De’Aaron Fox is averaging 26.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 5.6 assists and 2.0 steals while shooting 46.6% from the field and 36.3% from 3-point range. He is second in the NBA in deflections (3.6), fourth in steals and ninth in scoring.

Domantas Sabonis averages 19.7 points, 13.7 rebounds and 8.3 assists. He is shooting 60.4% from the field and 40.3% from beyond the arc, although he is attempting only 1.1 3-point goals per game.

Sabonis leads the league in rebounding, double-doubles (68) and triple-doubles (25). He has recorded 55 consecutive double-doubles, the longest single-season streak since the ABA-NBA merger in 1976.

Monk is averaging 15.6 points, 3.0 rebounds and 5.2 assists. He scored a total of 21 points over the past three games, going 9 of 35 (.257) from the field. He is 3 of 29 (.103) from 3-point range over the past five games.

Keegan Murray averages 14.9 points and 5.3 rebounds. He is shooting 46.2% from the field and 35.6% from long distance. Harrison Barnes is scoring 12.2 points while shooting 39.4% from 3-point range.

Vezenkov is nearing a return after missing the past 21 games with a grade-3 right ankle sprain. Huerter is out with a left shoulder dislocation and labrum tear. Lyles is out with a left knee sprain.

Scouting Dallas

Doncic had 28 points, 11 rebounds, six assists and three steals in Tuesday’s win over the Kings. He is averaging 33.9 points, 9.1 rebounds and 9.8 assists while shooting 48.7% from the field and 37.4% from 3-point range.

Kyrie Irving averages 25.3 points, 5.0 rebounds and 5.3 assists. He is shooting 49.1% from the field and 40.7% from beyond the arc.

Tim Hardaway Jr. (15.4 ppg) is shooting just 40.7% from the field, but he has made 36.1% from 3-point range on 7.9 attempts per game. He came off the bench to score 22 points Tuesday, making 5 of 6 from beyond the arc.

Center Daniel Gafford has been a big addition since being acquired in a trade with the Washington Wizards. In 20 games with the Mavericks, Gafford is averaging 11.8 points and 7.5 rebounds while converting an eye-popping 77.3% of his 6.6 field-goal attempts per game.

P.J. Washington has also been a nice addition, averaging 10.7 points and 6.0 rebounds.

Mavericks at Kings

When: 7 p.m.

Where: Golden 1 Center

TV: NBC Sports California, NBA TV

Radio: Sactown Sports 1140

Odds: Mavericks -1.5

Over/under: 227.5

Injury report

Mavericks: QUESTIONABLE — Luka Doncic (Achilles); Maxi Kleber (knee). OUT — Greg Brown III (G League); Alex Fudge (G League); Josh Green (ankle); Olivier-Maxence Prosper (G League); Brandon Williams (G League).

Kings: QUESTIONABLE — Sasha Vezenkov (ankle). OUT — Jordan Ford (G League); Kevin Huerter (shoulder); Mason Jones (G League); Trey Lyles (knee); Jalen Slawson (G League).

Upcoming schedule

March 29 vs. Dallas Mavericks

March 31 vs. Utah Jazz

April 2 vs. Los Angeles Clippers

April 4 at New York Knicks

April 5 at Boston Celtics