Across the Association, helpless defenders have spoken at length regarding the fines and penalties coaches have implemented, should one fall for one of DeMar DeRozan’s trademark pump fakes. As the Dallas Mavericks learned during one of the six-time All-Star’s “greatest hits” on February 10, 2025, the cost is often just as expensive, even when disciplined defenses do everything right. Offering “warning shots” long before his big-time finish, DeRozan — sitting on 40 points prior to — sees its cause-and-effect with Dallas leaving no secrets about an end-of-game double team. Completely unbothered, Sacramento’s crunchtime assassin merely camouflages in between two blue jerseys, unlocking his path for a crowd-quieting go-ahead floater. Collecting his highest-scoring game in the Sacramento Kings’ threads to date, the 16-year veteran unleashed his full arsenal, erupting for 42 points (on 15-of-22 shooting), seven rebounds, three assists, four 3-pointers, and a +21 plus-minus. It guided win No. 2 of Sacramento’s three-game winning streak, keeping them closely tethered in the Western Conference’s Play-In hunt. · Feb 11, 2025