Kings takeaways: What we learned in annoying 127-123 loss to Mavericks

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SACRAMENTO -- Anger. Disappointment. Envy. 

Kings fans got an up-close look at budding superstar Luka Doncic Wednesday night at Golden 1 Center. It was another reminder of what Sacramento missed out on when the team passed on the Slovenian guard in the 2018 NBA Draft.

Led by Doncic’s tremendous play, the Dallas Mavericks built a big third-quarter lead and then coasted down the stretch for the 127-123 win.

Doncic led the way with a big-time triple-double, but he was one of six Mavericks to score in double-figures.

Here are three takeaways as the Kings fell a season-high 11 games under .500 at 15-26 on the season.  

Star

Doncic and the Kings will be linked throughout the superstar’s career and likely a lot longer than that. Kings general manager Vlade Divac selected Marvin Bagley III with the No. 2 overall selection in the 2018 NBA Draft instead of Doncic.

Bagley has plenty of time to grow into who he is going to be as a player, but Doncic already is an elite star that looks like a generational talent.

The Mavericks’ star posted a 25-point, 17-assist, 15-rebound triple-double. The Kings threw the kitchen sink at the second-year guard and he picked them apart with his incredible court vision.

Playing angry

De’Aaron Fox had enough. He wasn’t happy with his teammates. He wasn’t happy with Mavericks. He wasn’t happy with the officials and he wasn’t happy with losing. 

Fox attacked the Mavericks' defense almost every time he had the ball in his hands. He forced the issue on a few occasions, but this is the player the Kings need. He finished the night with 27 points, 12 assists and seven rebounds, although he shot just 3-of-9 from the free-throw line.

In the third quarter, Fox picked up a technical while pleading his own case. It’s probably time for head coach Luke Walton and a few of Fox’s teammates to start paying out some fines and stand up for their leader. 

[RELATED: Holmes back at practice, but weeks away from Kings return]

Remember me?

Harrison Barnes had a little bit of an edge to him from the opening tip Wednesday evening at Golden 1 Center. On the first possession of the game, Barnes went at Doncic and scored over his former teammate for the first two points of the game.

Barnes continued his assault on the team that traded him to Sacramento last season. He finished with 25 points on 10-of-18 shooting and grabbed eight rebounds in the loss.

In addition to Barnes’ ties to Dallas, there were a pair of Mavericks that used to play for the Kings. Seth Curry hit 5-of-8 from long range to finish with 21 points and Justin Jackson chipped in seven points.

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