Sacramento Kings point guard Russell Westbrook has passed Magic Johnson for seventh on the NBA career assists leaderboard, reaching 10,149 assists after recording nine in a 113-107 win over the Dallas Mavericks. Westbrook also trails Dominique Wilkins by one spot for 19th on the NBA scoring list. The victory marks the Kings’ third in their last 13 games and their fourth straight win over Dallas, CBS News Sacramento reports.
The entire Kings roster contributed to the win, with guard Keon Ellis scoring 21 points, including 5-of-10 from three. Coach Doug Christie emphasized ball movement, and the team matched their season-high with 32 assists, Sports Illustrated reports.
Sacramento showed signs of a turnaround, with all ten players scoring at least four points. Rookie guard Nique Clifford contributed eight points and nine rebounds off the bench, helping the Kings defeat the Mavericks.
Despite an 8-23 record, the Kings are showing signs of improvement and renewed energy on the court. Sports Illustrated notes, “It’s too early for things to fall apart completely, so it’s great to have some joy back on the court.”
The Kings will face the Lakers in Los Angeles on Sunday, while the Mavericks visit the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday.
