Mavs' struggle to survive injuries continues against Kings (Dec 18, 2016)
DALLAS -- While the Dallas Mavericks keep adding losses, they're finally getting close to adding two key components that should make adding somes wins a little easier.
Dallas, a Western Conference-worst 6-20, have had superstar Dirk Nowitzki out of the lineup for all but five games with an Achilles injury. And spark plug point guard J.J. Barea, a diminutive figure but a critical cog for the Mavs' offensive success, could be back in action next week.
When Dallas takes on the Sacramento Kings on Sunday, it will mark the 16th consecutive game that Barea has missed with a calf injury.
Nowitzki, 38, who made some waves recently talking about the possibility he might retire if his health doesn't allow him to play to his standard, said his return is not far off from Barea. However, he's not certain he will be back before the calendar turns to 2017.
"That's what I'm hoping for, but when this happened, I never thought I'd be out to the end of December," Nowitzki told the Dallas Morning News. "At this point, it's hard to say, but if it keeps responding I'll show up soon."
Still, Nowitzki and Barea won't be able to help Dallas against a Kings team that came to Dallas on Dec. 7 and slapped the Mavs with a 120-89 loss.
The Kings (10-16) return to Dallas coming off a big road win at Memphis, the team that first-year Kings coach Dave Joerger used to coach.
"It was not an enjoyable game to coach from that aspect," Joerger said. "But now I'm here (with the Kings) and these are my guys now, and so I'm really proud of them, congratulated them."
Kings star center DeMarcus Cousins, who has been embroiled in an ugly situation involving columnist Andy Furillo at the Sacramento Bee, had 22 points against the Grizzlies. The Sacramento Kings say they are looking into the incident in which Cousins confronted and shouted obscenities at the columnist after Monday night's game against the Los Angeles Lakers, according to ESPN.
Video of the confrontation was made public Saturday. The column addressed an incident at a New York nightclub earlier in December in which Cousins and teammate Matt Barnes are being sued over an alleged assault. It also referenced a situation at a bar last May that involved Cousins and his younger brother, Jaleel, that led to his Jaleel's arrest.
Upon seeing the Sacramento columnist for the first time since the article was published, Cousins decided to confront him.
"We're going to have some real f---ing issues," Cousins said to the columnist. "Don't ever mention my brother again."
"We are committed to being open and transparent, and any hint of media censorship is unacceptable," the Kings said in a statement released by the team. "There is an ongoing review into this matter, and we will take the appropriate steps immediately upon its conclusion."
So Sacramento will have to navigate through more off-court turbulence created by Cousins if they are going to end three-game win streak with back-to-back victories for the first time since Nov. 23.
