Kings' DeMar DeRozan Makes NBA History With Wednesday Night Performance vs. Mavericks

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Nick Meyer | Last updated Apr 17, 2025 12:31 AM ET

The Sacramento Kings took on the Dallas Mavericks Wednesday night in a Play-In Tournament game to decide their NBA Playoffs fate.

Coach Doug Christie's team looked to "light the beam" with a win over the Mavericks, but things didn't go their way for most of the game as they trailed late in the fourth quarter.

The game was notable not just for the final score but also for the stat sheet stuffing performance of Kings star DeMar DeRozan, who made history with his 30-plus point effort against coach Jason Kidd's team.

DeRozan surpass Atlanta Hawks star Trae Young's recent record, setting him apart from for many others as he did his best to keep the Kings afloat in Wednesday's game at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California.

"DeMar DeRozan is now the highest-scoring player ever in the Play-In Tournament," Associated Press writer Josh Dubow wrote on X.

DeRozan broke the Hawks' Young's record of 137 points as he scored his 139th career Play-In Tournament points on Wednesday.

The Play-In Tournament first began during the 2019-2020 NBA season, which was played in the 'Bubble' in Orlando during the COVID-19 lockdowns.

The Lakers defeated the Heat to win the NBA title that season, setting the stage for a new NBA tradition.

DeRozan has since proven himself to be one of the best players in the tournament's young history, a feather in the cap of one of the better shooting guards of the last decade-plus.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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