The Sacramento Kings play host to the Dallas Mavericks at Golden One Center on Tuesday.

The Mavericks (42-29) had to battle to grab a win on Monday, narrowly beating the Utah Jazz. They actually trailed for most of that game but rode a 27-17 fourth quarter to a comeback win. That's not the most convincing victory, but it was as critical as ever. This team is doing everything possible to avoid playing in the Play-In Tournament, tied with the Sacramento Kings for the six-seed in the West. That's telling of how important this game is for both teams, and you better believe Luka Doncic will be at full tilt after dropping a triple-double on Monday. The Slovenian is averaging 34.1 points, 9.0 rebounds and 9.8 assists in an MVP-type season.

The Kings (42-29) are quietly one of the hottest teams in the NBA right now, entering this matchup winning 11 of their last 16 games. What has made fans ecstatic is the fact that this team is finally playing some defense, allowing 112 points or fewer in nine straight games. That might not sound like anything special, but it's quite the run for one of the worst defenses in the NBA. That's what could change things for this club because they were the top offense in efficiency last year and rank Top 10 again this season. Nobody can stop Domantas Sabonis and De'Aaron Fox when they get rolling, and some defense could make them a true contender heading into the postseason.

This is the third matchup between these teams, with Sacramento winning the first two meetings.