Gameday: Kings' Rondo faces former squad, ‘wasn't my best'

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SACRAMENTO – Looking to wash away a weekend of disappointing basketball, the Sacramento Kings host the Dallas Mavericks on Monday night at Sleep Train Arena. Sacramento has lost two straight and currently sit at 6-12 on the season, but they may have reinforcements on the way.

All-Star center DeMarcus Cousins participated in shootaround Monday morning and the team is hopeful he will be ready when tip off rolls around at 7pm. The 25-year-old big man has missed three straight games with a lower back strain and eight of the team’s first 18 games on the season.

The Kings will face a tough Mavericks team with plenty of new faces. Newcomers Deron Williams and Wesley Matthews will start in the backcourt for Dallas, with Chandler Parsons, Zaza Pachulia and future Hall of Famer Dirk Nowitzki up front.

The Kings are looking to get back on the winning path before leaving to play the Boston Celtics in Mexico City on Thursday.  

THE LINE

Kings by 2

WHERE THEY STAND

Kings: 6-12, fourth place in Pacific

Mavs: 10-7, second place in Southwest

MATCHUP TO WATCH

Rajon Rondo vs. his former team -- Things did not go well for Rondo last season after he was traded from the Boston Celtics to the Dallas Mavericks. A run in with head coach Rick Carlisle had Rondo packing his bags in the middle of a playoff run. The veteran guard has stated that the Dallas experience was just a blip in a long NBA career. We will see if it looks that way when he takes the court against his former team tonight.  

INJURY REPORT

Kings: C Demarcus Cousins (lower back strain) is probable.

Mavs: G J.J. Barea (right ankle) out

SERIES HISTORY

The Kings have lost six straight to the Mavericks, including three in a row at Sleep Train Arena. Dallas owns a 90-62 lead in the all-time series with the Kings and a 73-49 advantage during the Sacramento-era.

QUOTABLE

“Dallas was just a pitstop in my career. I was there for less than five months. It was a blur. I have some good relationships in that organization, but it wasn’t my best.” -- Rajon Rondo on his time with the Mavericks

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