DALLAS – The Dallas Mavericks entered Monday night riding a three-game winning streak against a Sacramento Kings team that hadn’t won a game all season.

By the final buzzer, that momentum was gone.

Dallas suffered an ugly 115-100 defeat at American Airlines Center, becoming the first team this season to lose to Sacramento and dropping to 4-3.

The Kings, who opened the season with six consecutive losses, got 25 points from rookie Darius Acuff Jr., 24 from Malik Monk and another 23 from Zach LaVine.

But the biggest story for Dallas was an offense that couldn’t establish any consistency.

Cooper Flagg endured one of his most difficult shooting performances of the young season, finishing with 17 points while making just three of 19 attempts from the field.

Flagg did convert all 11 of his free throws, but Sacramento repeatedly disrupted his opportunities to score in the halfcourt.

It was a particularly disappointing performance after Flagg had scored 33 points in Friday’s 116-111 victory over Houston.

Daniel Gafford and Walter Clayton Jr. led Dallas with 20 points apiece, providing much of the Mavericks’ offensive production.

Gafford supplied an interior presence, while Clayton contributed scoring from the perimeter and in transition.

The Mavericks also received 13 points from rookie Morez Johnson Jr., who established a new career high and gave Dallas some needed energy around the basket.

However, the Mavericks’ outside shooting was a major problem.

Dallas connected on just seven of 33 attempts from 3-point range, a dismal 21.2 percent.

That inability to stretch Sacramento’s defense allowed the Kings to concentrate on slowing Flagg and making life difficult inside.

The absence of Kyrie Irving didn’t help.

Irving sat out because of left knee management, leaving Dallas without one of its most experienced offensive creators. The Mavericks also lost guard Max Christie to a hip injury during the contest.

Sacramento led 54-53 at halftime before creating separation as Dallas continued struggling to generate efficient scoring opportunities.

For a Mavericks team hoping to establish itself among the Western Conference contenders, losing at home to an opponent that entered 0-6 raises some uncomfortable questions.

Dallas has enough individual talent to compete with quality opponents. Monday demonstrated that its offense can still become stagnant when shots aren’t falling and its primary creators aren’t available.

The Mavericks won’t have much time to dwell on the defeat.

Dallas visits the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday, November 4, with another important test awaiting against a Southwest Division rival.

Getting Irving healthy, restoring offensive balance and finding a more consistent contribution from Flagg will be priorities.

Monday’s performance was a reminder that the Mavericks still have significant work ahead.