I hope you all enjoyed your break from Kings basketball and your blood pressure is all normalized because we’re now entering the stretch run of a tight playoff race and you just know there’s going to be some Kardiac Kangz moments these next couple months. It all starts tonight as the Kings take on the San Antonio Spurs at home, but they might have to do it without Domantas Sabonis who could miss his first game of the season.
Let’s talk Kings basketball!
When: Sunday, February 25th, 6:30 PM PT
Where: Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA
TV: ESPN, NBC Sports California
Radio: Sactown Sports 1140
Last Time
The Clippers have played the Kings twice this season and have won handily each time. In their last matchup back on December 12th in L.A., the Clippers won 119-99 with no King scoring more than Keegan Murray’s 17 points. Kawhi Leonard led the way for the Clippers with 31 points. It should be noted that both of the Kings matchups with the Clippers so far have been on the second night of a back to back, but that won’t be the case tonight.
Three in the Key
Clip Show
Is this the year that things finally break right for the Clippers? After a rocky start to the season, the Clippers have been one of the hottest teams in the entire NBA since December, going 29-8 since then and vaulting well ahead of the Kings and Suns for Pacific Division dominance. Kawhi Leonard and Paul George have been healthy all season and James Harden has fit right in after a bit of a learning period as a playmaking dynamo next to them. The Clippers also possess some of the best depth in the league with solid rotation players down the roster, including 6th man Norman Powell who is averaging 13.5 points including 45.3% from three and Russell Westbrook, who comes off the bench to provide a little bit of everything.
Three Point Defense
The Kings are not a good team at defending the three point line and unfortunately for them, the Clippers are one of the best three point shooting teams in the entire league, ranking 2nd in percentage 39.4% a game. James Harden, Daniel Theis, Amir Coffey, Kawhi Leonard and Norman Powell all shoot over 40% from three for the season, and Paul George is close behind at 39.5% himself. The one thing that might be in Sacramento’s favor is that the Clippers don’t necessarily shoot a ton of threes, ranking just 19th in attempts. The star power of Leonard/George/Harden creates a lot of open looks for L.A., so the Kings have their work cut out for them on that end, especially after not getting off to a particularly great defensive start in their first game after the break against a less talented Spurs team. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Coach Brown go to the Kessler Edwards well tonight since Sacramento will need all the length they can use against the Clippers’ wings.
Control the Glass
The Clippers don’t really have one major weakness, but they aren’t the best rebounding team, ranking just 22nd in defensive rebounding rate. The Kings aren’t an amazing offensive rebounding team, but they should get their share of second chance point opportunities against Los Angeles. On the other end, the Clippers need to be one and done; their offense is too efficient to be giving them multiple opportunities.
Prediction
Malik Monk and De’Aaron Fox go toe-to-toe with Kawhi and PG, but it’s Domantas Sabonis dropping yet another triple-double that puts Sacramento over the top in the end.
Kings 116, Clippers 111
Fan Predictions
Link to Leaderboard (Updated 2/21/24)
