ESPN's Tim Legler Challenges Dallas Mavs Ahead of Friday's Sacramento Kings Game: 'Come Out and Beat Them Again'

On the latest episode of The ALL NBA Podcast, host and ESPN analyst Tim Legler issued a big challenge to Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving and the Dallas Mavericks ahead of their big matchup against the Sacramento Kings on Friday night.

In what felt like a playoff atmosphere at Golden 1 Center on Tuesday night, the Dallas Mavericks (43-29) completely dismantled the Sacramento Kings (42-30) to take sole possession of the No. 6 seed in the Western Conference. The 36-point blowout was led by Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving's combined 56 points, and the Mavs shot 22-39 (56.4%) from deep as a team.

As great of a win as it was, the Mavs know they have more work to do with another matchup against the Kings coming up on Friday night. Doncic, Irving and company certainly don't need any extra motivation given how tight the West standings are, but ESPN analyst and former NBA player Tim Legler issued a challenge to the Mavs on the latest episode of The ALL NBA Podcast.

Mar 26, 2024; Sacramento, California, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (77) shoots the ball

Sergio Estrada-USA TODAY Sports

"Here's what I'll say to your point about what to expect on Friday. I actually would like to issue that challenge to the Mavericks more so than the Kings. If you're Dallas, you really want to make a definitive statement about how serious you are right now? Come out and beat them again by 20-25 (points) when they've had two days off, (the other night) clearly wasn't their best night," Legler said.

"They've had two full days, plus a third day of walkaround to prepare for you specifically, and you still come out and carve them up? You might just completely demoralize the Kings if you're able to do that again. So let's see if the Mavericks can approach it with that level of seriousness."

Although the Mavs are currently losing the regular-season series to the Kings 2-1, the first two losses came before the trade-deadline additions of Daniel Gafford and P.J. Washington. Both players proved to be difference-makers in Tuesday's win, as Gafford finished with 10 points (5-7 FG), four rebounds, three assists and one steal in 22 minutes, and Washington finished with 14 points (5-11 FG), 13 rebounds and two assists in 32 minutes.

The Kings are a good enough team to where it would probably be naive to expect the Mavs to blow them out the same way they did in the previous game, but Dallas still has the pieces and matchups to pull off another big win with the correct level of focus. If the Mavs do win, they'll take a two-game lead over the Kings in the West standings with less than 10 games remaining in the regular season.