Sacramento’s last two games could not have gone any worse, with both ending in heartbreaking fashion. As a result the Kings turned what should have been a 4-1 road trip into a 2-3 road trip and they’ve lost three straight. Now they’re back home for a brief spell and everyone in Sacramento really just needs a solid win right now.
Let’s talk Kings basketball!
When: Thursday, January 18th, 7:00 PM PT
Where: Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, CA
TV: NBC Sports California
Radio: Sactown Sports 1140
Last Time
The Kings and Pacers face off for the first time this season tonight. Last year, they split the season series with both teams winning at home. The Kings lost the most recent matchup by three points but were without De’Aaron Fox’s services in that one.
Three in the Key
48 Complete Minutes
Tuesday’s matchup against the Phoenix Suns was so infuriating in part because the first 40 minutes were probably the best basketball the Kings have played all season. The offense was crisp, the defensive rotations were good and the Kings were up 22 points on a good team on the road. Then the next 8 minutes was probably the worst basketball in the Mike Brown era. Turnover after turnover, bad shot after bad shot and the Suns came back to complete one of the most improbable comebacks I’ve ever seen. It was a devastating loss but also goes to show why you can’t let off the gas for a second. The Kings got sloppy and panicked and completely fell apart down the stretch. Hopefully it’s a lesson that only needs to be learned once.
New Look Pacers
The Pacers come to Sacramento with the same record (23-17) as the Kings and their year has been very reminiscent of Sacramento’s season last year. Indiana is leading the league in offense a season after the Kings did. Tyrese Haliburton has been leading the way, averaging 23.6 points and 12.5 assists a game, but he has missed the last week and a half due to a hamstring injury. He’s questionable tonight and might not play, but even without him the Pacers have gone 2-2 in their last four games. Indiana also just made a big trade, acquiring Pascal Siakam without giving up much more than draft picks. It’s unclear if he will be available tonight, but he gives the Pacers another All-Star talent to pair with Haliburton and provide some help on the defensive front, where the Pacers have been weak this season. This is a team with a lot of firepower, who likes to play fast and furious. The Kings should be very familiar with this type of team, and hopefully they can beat the Pacers at their own game.
Attack the Paint
One of the biggest reasons the Pacers don’t have a better record is their porous defense. Despite Myles Turner being a prodigious shot blocker, the Pacers have little size around him (one of the reasons they traded for Siakam). The Pacers give up the most points in the paint in the entire league at 60.4 a game. The Kings need to take advantage of that and dominate the interior.
Prediction
The Kings unleash some of their recent frustrations on the Pacers and win in dominating fashion behind a career-high 50 points from De’Aaron Fox.
Kings 141, Pacers 119
