s could not pull away. Oregon had its own issues with turnovers and missed shots, so was unable to push the lead past single digits.W

DALLAS -- ??? Even after scoring a season high in points, Dorian Finney-Smith wanted to talk about his defense.The rookie had 17 points, leading six Dallas players in double figures as the Mavericks beat the Sacramento Kings 99-79 Sunday.The Mavericks, who lost to Sacramento by 31 points at home 11 days ago, started fast. They made 11 of their first 15 shots and never trailed.Later, some of his teammates teased him for passing up open shots.When I get a hand on a ball or a tip, it gets me going, Finney-Smith said. I try not to lose focus on what I bring to the table, and thats defense. If Im making shots, thats a plus.Deron Williams, Harrison Barnes and Wesley Matthews each scored 15 for Dallas.DeMarcus Cousins scored 33 for Sacramento. The Kings were minus second-leading scorer Rudy Gay, who missed his third consecutive game because of a strained right hip flexor.A 10-0 Mavericks run early in the second quarter opened a 38-26 lead and the Kings never got closer than nine for the remainder of the game.Weve got to come out and be the aggressor, thats just plain and simple, Cousins said. We cant get off to slow starts. We cant let a team gain confidence. Weve got to be the aggressors every night.It was barely 30 degrees in Dallas and the start time was moved up three hours to 3 p.m. -- that avoided a conflict with the Cowboys, whose home game against Tampa Bay was originally scheduled for the daytime and later switched to night.Following a 120-89 home loss to the Kings on Dec. 7, the Mavericks called a team meeting. Theyve won three of four at home since then and are 3-3 overall.We remember (the loss), but the biggest thing is that our demeanor has to be like this every night, Matthews said.TIP-INSKings: Cousins had 23 of Sacramentos 44 points in the first half. ... Ty Lawson was the only other Sacramento player in double figures, with 10 points.Mavericks: The Kings scored just 14 points in the third quarter, a season low for a Mavericks opponent. ... Williams had seven assists and passed current Dallas television analyst Derek Harper for 21st place on the NBAs all-time assists list with 6,584.HARRIS A HERODevin Harris had a season-high 14 points and seven rebounds for the Mavericks. He made a three-point play and a four-point play to cap a 12-2 Dallas run that gave the Mavs a 76-56 lead with 2:33 left in the third quarter.Harris had missed the teams first 16 games with a sprained right big toe.When he feels good physically, he moves with joy out there, coach Rick Carlisle said.LET IT BEEKings coach Dave Joerger called for a truce in an ongoing spat between Cousins and the Sacramento Bee newspaper. Cousins recently confronted a Bee writer after a column that referenced the arrest of the 6-foot-11 stars brother.This guy is the face of our franchise, Joerger said. Hes done and said some things that he wishes he could do over. He has improved.Im not justifying anything that hes done. What he did was excessive. But enough is enough, he said.TRIBUTE TO SAGERThe Mavericks joined the list of NBA teams to hold a moment of silence before their game in honor of TNT broadcaster Craig Sager, who died Thursday. Team owner Mark Cuban remembered Sager fondly before the game.Smiles are underrated, Cuban said. Nice is underrated. Getting people to smile every time -- thats something not a lot of people have been able to accomplish.UP NEXTKings: Home against Portland on Tuesday. The Trail Blazers beat the Kings 122-120 in overtime on Nov. 11 in Portland.Mavericks: At Denver on Monday to start a four-game trip. Dallas plays six of its next seven on the road.Kendall Sheffield Youth Jersey . -- Jacksonville wide receiver Cecil Shorts will likely be a game-time decision whether hell play Sunday in the Jaguars home game against the San Diego Chargers. Qadree Ollison Falcons Jersey . After slipping from the summit during the week, the Gunners overcame struggling Crystal Palace 2-0 on Sunday thanks to Alex Oxlade-Chamberlains second-half brace. http://www.falconsrookiestore.com/Falcons-Kaleb-Mcgary-Jersey/ . Its the second straight game Bell has scored in extra time for Kelowna, which beat the Brandon Wheat Kings 6-5 on Friday, and he now has four game-winning goals on the season. Steve Bartkowski Womens Jersey . Self was acquired from the Buffalo Bandits in a trade for Alex Hill midway through last season, and made his debut in Rochester on March 16, 2013. Brett Favre Womens Jersey . First off, the fans ripped the Cubbies introduction of a fuzzy new kid-friendly mascot named "Clark".LAHAINA, Hawaii -- Dillon Brooks came up short with a chance to win the game in regulation. Given another shot, he wasnt going to miss.Brooks hit a long 3-pointer with 22 seconds left in overtime and scored 17 points, lifting No. 13 Oregon to a 69-65 victory over Tennessee at the Maui Invitational on Tuesday.I knew I had to redeem myself, Brooks said.Oregon (3-2) shot poorly in a loss to Georgetown in its Maui opener and continued to struggle on Day 2. The Ducks shot 34 percent, including 5 of 17 from 3-point range, and had 21 turnovers.But they have Brooks.The preseason All-American was limited eight points in 13 minutes in his return Monday night, leaving him frustrated. Ducks coach Dana Altman gave his star more playing time and Brooks delivered, hitting 4 of 9 shots and 7 of 10 free throws in 25 minutes.Brooks has been his best when the games on the line and came through when Oregon needed him in Maui -- after failing at the end of regulation.The junior guard missed an open shot in the late at the buzzer, but pulled up without hesitation in overtime. Brooks drained that shot from well behind the arc, then grabbed a defensive rebound after the Vols missed before being fouled.On the way to hitting 1 of 2 game-sealing free throws, Brooks high-fived ESPN announced Bill Walton and yelled: Come on Bill!I thought he was going to drive it, Altman said of Brooks game-winner. When he pulled it up, it was one of those no, no, great shot.Tennessee (1-3), which lost to No. 16 Wisconsin in its tournament opener, struggled against the Ducks constant defensive pressure.The Vols had 25 turnovers and shot 37 percent, though managed to keep the Ducks within reach. Shembari Philips hit two free throws with 30 seconds left in regulation, but Tennessee could not come up with the big shot it needed in overtime.Detrick Mostella led Tennessee with 22 points.I keep saying I really like our team, Tennessee coach Rick Barnes said. We keep getting better and better each time out, certainly coming here and playing against the level of competition is proving that our guys can compete.dddddddddddd And now weve got to learn to win gamesOregon had a disappointing tournament opener, digging a 17-point first-half hole before a furious second-half rally fell short.The Ducks slow-started the second game as well, missing their first six 3-pointers and 10 of 13 shots overall.Tennessee stumbled out of the gate in its opener as well and did it again in the Day 2 early game, opening 3 for 16 to keep Oregon in it.Both teams started hit a few shots and were tied at 32-all by halftime.It got worse for the Vols to start the second half.Sped up by Oregons pressure defense, they threw balls out of balls and missed shots from all over the court. Tennessee had nine turnovers in the opening 8 1/2 minutes and missed eight of its first nine shots to fall behind 45-42.Despite Tennessees struggles, the Ducks could not pull away. Oregon had its own issues with turnovers and missed shots, so was unable to push the lead past single digits.We didnt come out of the locker room with the kind of energy we needed, Barnes said. We fought back. We kept our poise even when wed been down.BIG PICTURETennessee has a ways to go on both on both ends of the floor if its going to be competitive once the SEC season starts.Oregon won ugly and is still trying to find its groove with Brooks back. Getting a game-winning shot by their best player could be the spark the Ducks need.MISSING VOLSThe Vols played without point guard Jordan Bone, who was limited to seven minutes in the opener due to a foot injury. Power forward Admiral Schofield also was out due to unspecified reasons.UP NEXTOregon will face the winner between UConn and Chaminade in Wednesdays fifth-place game.Tennessee faces UConn-Chaminade loser in the seventh-place game. ' ' '