The Sacramento Kings are in a bad place. Following last week’s embarrassing loss against the Indiana Pacers, the Kings are currently riding a 4-game losing streak. The Kings have had a nice little break with three days off, and hopefully that break can reset the team’s energy and focus. Extra time to practice, time to rest up bumps and bruises, and time to see loved ones, will it be enough to break the Kings out of this recent funk? Let’s find out! I’m terrified!
Let’s talk Kings basketball!
When: Monday, January 22nd, 7:00 PM PT
Where: Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, CA
TV: NBC Sports California
Radio: Sactown Sports 1140
Last Time
Sacramento defeated the Hawks in Atlanta, 117-110, as De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis carried the team with big bench contributions from Malik Monk and Trey Lyles.
Three in the Key
Don’t Get Complacent
The Atlanta Hawks will be shorthanded against the Kings tonight. Trae Young is in the league’s concussion protocols and is out indefinitely. De’Andre Hunter and Wesley Matthews are also out with injuries. The Kings, meanwhile, are listed as healthy with the exception of Sasha Vezenkov, who is questionable with an ankle sprain. The Hawks have already been in a tailspin this season, and now are without their best player. This is the very definition of a game the Kings should win, and should win easily. Unfortunately the Kings have a bad habit of taking their foot off the gas, and not taking opponents seriously. The Kings need to shake those bad habits and win this one in convincing fashion.
Make Your Freebies
This is going to be a recurring theme until it stops being an issue. The Kings were an atrocious 56.3% from the charity stripe against Indiana. The Kings simply cannot afford to squander those opportunities at the line.
Feed the Ox
Domantas Sabonis has 12 triple doubles this season, tied with Nikola Jokic for the most in the NBA. He has recorded a triple double in three straight games. Sabonis has 37 double doubles this season, tied with Nikola Jokic for most in the NBA. He has recorded a double double in 24 straight games. Feed Sabonis early and often, and don’t forget about him late in games if the going gets tough.
Prediction
A little R&R is just what the doctor ordered, and the Kings bounce back in a big way.
Kings 131 – Hawks 106
Fan Predictions
