Tonight’s game between the Kings and Lakers has a bit of extra importance for both teams for a regular season game. The Kings currently sit at 7th in the Western Conference while the Lakers sit in 9th but only 1.5 games back of Sacramento. Games like tonight could decide whether one of these teams have to fight for a playoff spot in the play-in or not.
Let’s talk Kings basketball!
When: Wednesday, March 6th, 7:30 PM PT
Where: Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA
TV: NBC Sports California
Radio: Sactown Sports 1140
Last Time
The Kings are up 2-0 in the season series against the Lakers, but haven’t played them since November 15th, when they beat the Lakers 125-110. Domantas Sabonis led the way with 29 points, 16 rebounds and 7 assists, while both De’Aaron Fox and Kevin Huerter scored 28 points. LeBron James and D’Angelo Russell led the way for the Lakers with 28 points but Anthony Davis was held to just 9 points on 3-9 from the field.
Three in the Key
Surging Lakers
Much like last season, the Lakers have overcome a bad start to surge back into the playoff race. Los Angeles is 10-4 since February 1st with impressive wins against the Celtics, Pelicans, Clippers and Thunder in there. LeBron James recently became the first player in NBA history to score 40,000 career points and at age 39 he’s having a career-best year in terms of shooting the ball, making 40.7% of his threes. D’Angelo Russell has also been a big part of the Lakers recent success, as he’s averaging 21.5 points on 46.8% from the field and 43.6% from three since the start of the New Year.
Foul Trouble
Look, it’s one thing to say don’t get in foul trouble against the Lakers and another to actually do that without just giving up open layups. Kings fans know that better than anyone else. The Lakers once again enjoy the most drastic free throw differential in the league, and they also happen to commit the least fouls in the league. The Kings need to stay focused and disciplined even if the whistle doesn’t go their way.
Fox & Monk
The Lakers don’t really have a great answer for De’Aaron Fox and Malik Monk, which has been a large reason for Sacramento’s recent success against them in recent year. L.A’s best answer for these two would likely be Jarred Vanderbilt, but he hasn’t played in a while and likely won’t be coming back tonight. Fox and Monk both need to be in attack mode to put as much pressure on L.A.’s defense as possible. The Lakers like to play a fast pace as well, but it probably suits the Kings better.
Prediction
Harry Giles proves to be a sleeper agent all along and “gets lost” driving to the game after picking up LeBron and AD.
Kings 141, Lakers 86
Fan Predictions
Link to Leaderboard (Updated 2/21/24)
