The Sacramento Kings brought humor and creativity to their play-in tournament matchup against the Dallas Mavericks, but their antics ultimately failed to deliver the desired results.
Hosting the Mavericks at the Golden 1 Center, the Kings decided to troll their opponents during player introductions by playing the “My Little Pony” theme song and adding horse neighs after each player’s name. While the move drew laughs and attention, it did little to help the Kings on the court, as they fell to the Mavericks in a decisive 120-106 loss.
The Kings’ pregame trolling was a nod to the Mavericks’ logo, which features a horse head. The playful gesture included the iconic “My Little Pony” theme song and loud horse neighs. However, the Kings’ humor didn’t translate into success on the hardwood.
Kings arena welcomes the visiting Mavericks by playing the My Little Pony theme song and horse neighs during player introductions
LOL pic.twitter.com/Ec5nO20k34— MrBuckBuck (@MrBuckBuckNBA) April 17, 2025
The Mavericks came out firing, dominating the first half and building a commanding 71-48 lead by halftime. Klay Thompson led the charge with 23 points on an efficient 8-of-11 shooting, including four three-pointers. Anthony Davis, despite battling injuries, delivered a strong performance with 27 points, nine rebounds, and three blocks. Recent signing Brandon Williams provided a spark off the bench, contributing 17 points and five assists.
The Kings struggled to find their rhythm, with DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine being the only bright spots. DeRozan scored 33 points and grabbed seven rebounds, while LaVine added 20 points and nine assists. Domantas Sabonis had a disappointing outing, managing just 11 points and 13 rebounds on 5-of-13 shooting. The Kings’ defensive lapses and lack of cohesion proved costly, allowing the Mavericks to control the game from start to finish.
The loss marked the end of the Kings’ season, extending their playoff drought to 19 of the last 20 seasons. Despite bold moves in the offseason, including acquiring DeRozan and trading De’Aaron Fox for LaVine, the Kings failed to find the chemistry needed to compete at a high level. Their decision to fire head coach Mike Brown midseason further added to the uncertainty surrounding the team’s future.
Meanwhile, the Mavericks advanced to face the Memphis Grizzlies in a battle for the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference. With Davis leading the way, Dallas hopes to continue their playoff push and prove that their revamped roster can deliver results.
