SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- The Dallas Mavericks’ season unofficially starts each year the day after the Cowboys’ season ends. That being the case, they decided to revert back to their early season form, which meant a slew of miscues.

And a loss.

The Mavericks were sloppy and unfocused for the first three quarters, and when they regained their zip, it was too late. They were met with an equal amount of grit by the Sacramento Kings, who planted a wild 122-120 defeat on them Monday night at ARCO Arena.

Kevin Martin drilled in 39 points, and John Salmons had 22, including a driving jump shot from 8 feet with 2.4 seconds left to put a halt to the Mavericks’ seven-game winning streak.

It was fitting that the shot came from close range. The Mavericks were terrible at defending in the paint all night.

They also tied a season high with 19 turnovers, but this game was not lost because of any sort of lack of production offensively. They had 40 points in the fourth quarter.

It was the other end of the floor that was fatal to them.

“We know in this league you never win games with your offense,’’ said Jason Terry, who tried to be the hero with five points in the final 22.2 seconds. “It was a question of whether we could get that last stop, and we didn’t get it done."

Martin hit 14 of 16 shots, and Salmons capped a dazzling display of offense down the stretch with his dagger. Terry’s 40-footer at the buzzer was close but not close enough.

“We got to take the good with the bad,’’ coach Avery Johnson said. “We won one at the buzzer the other night.

“Give them credit. Nobody really could stop each other there at the end, and it was like whoever had the ball last was going to win.’’

Essentially, that was the Kings as the frantic final 64 seconds featured 18 points scored, three ties and a lead change.

“We’re not going to win many games giving up 122 points,’’ Johnson said. “We got broken down defensively all over the place.’’

And as bad as the defense was – they surrendered 56 points in the paint and sent the Kings to the free-throw line 33 times – they still had a chance to win.

They stormed back from nine points down in the final four minutes, tying the score at 112. But Martin hit one of two free throws with 1:04 to go, and after a Dirk Nowitzki turnover, Salmons converted a driving layup for a 115-112 advantage.

After a timeout, the Mavericks got the ball to Devin Harris in the left corner. His 3-pointer was perfect to tie the score with 40 seconds left.

Then Salmons struck again, carving into the paint for a tough layup over Erick Dampier to put the Kings up by two. Terry didn’t blink, driving for a three-point play – his fourth such play of the night – with 22.2 seconds left.

After Martin made a gorgeous cut to the paint to make it 120-118, the Mavericks got it to Terry again. He hung in the air for a short bank shot to tie the score.

AP

Dallas Mavericks guard Jason Terry gets fouled by Spencer Hawes of the Kings.

That just set up the frantic final dash by Salmons, who got the ball and weaved to the basket, finally dropping in a short jumper for the victory.

Terry, who tied Devin Harris for the Mavericks’ scoring lead with 25 points, said he thought his late scores would be difference-makers.

“I thought we'd get one stop, get on this plane and head back on a win,’’ he said. “It didn't happen. You can't hold your head. They're always tough at home. Give them credit. They made tough shot after tough shot.’’

The Mavericks played without Jerry Stackhouse, who sat out with a strained right hamstring.

That didn’t explain their complete lack of focus at the defensive end.

The Kings scored 18 of their 31 points in the third quarter inside the paint. They also hit 10 free throws. The Mavericks couldn’t stop the Kings without fouling them.

Even Josh Howard’s return to action couldn’t help the Mavericks.

The 6-7 forward was back after missing the Los Angeles Clippers game for personal reasons.