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Rondo wants Mavericks out of playoff picture

Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

The Sacramento Kings (29-44) have very little to play for over these final weeks of the 2015-16 regular season, sitting 6 1/2 games back of the eighth seed in the Western Conference with nine games to go.

Since their playoff dreams are on the brink of being shattered for good, point guard Rajon Rondo wants the Kings to play the role of spoilers during this stretch, breaking the hearts of those whose postseason aspirations are still very much alive.

A convincing 133-111 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday knocked head coach Rick Carlisle's squad half-a-game out of the playoff picture, which Rondo takes great pride in.

"Yeah, I want them to get their plane ticket as soon as we get ours," Rondo said after the game, according to ESPN's Tim MacMahon. "So any time we can help, that's what I try to get these guys to focus on. If we're not going to make the playoffs, then let's help some of these guys go home with us."

There's certainly no love lost between Rondo and the Mavericks, who he played 46 games with last season after being dealt from the Boston Celtics. His tenure in the Lone Star State ended on a sour note, with Carlisle benching Rondo during their opening-round matchup with the Houston Rockets, before a back injury kept him sidelined permanently.

Rondo had a double-double of 11 points and 11 assists in 28 minutes Sunday, which falls in line with what he's averaging on the season: 11.8 points and a league-high 11.7 assists.

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