The Kings haven’t faced Houston since the second week of the season when the Rockets embarrassed the Kings twice in a row. Both games were without De’Aaron Fox though, and this time we’re in Sacramento. Hopefully the Kings have revenge on their mind.
Let’s talk Kings basketball!
When: Sunday, March 10th, 3:00 PM PT
Where: Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, CA
TV: NBC Sports California
Radio: Sactown Sports 1140
Last Time
As mentioned above, the Rockets absolutely embarrassed the Kings twice in a row near the start of the season. The Kings had two of their worst offensive performances of the season, scoring just 89 and 97 points respectively in both matchups. De’Aaron Fox did miss both games, but no other Kings starter could really get going. Through both games, the most a Kings starter scored was 13 points. The second game was so bad that most of the starters didn’t even play 30 minutes, and Domantas Sabonis even had a rare game where he didn’t have a double-double (finishing with a just 8 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists in 30 minutes). Keon Ellis led the team in scoring with 15 points in that one.
Three in the Key
Home Cooking
The Kings haven’t had much time to rest the last month, with almost every game coming with some travel. This is the first time they’re playing a consecutive home game since February 9th, and just the third time since January 7th. There’s four more games left on this homestand after this one with the next three being very tough opponents. The Kings need to protect their home floor, especially since Houston is not a great road team. While the Rockets have surprised a lot of people this season, they’re a much different team on the road; Houston is just 7-24 on the road compared to 21-11 at home. The Kings barely squeaked away with a victory in their most recent game, hopefully they can put together a more convincing performance tonight.
Battle of the Bigs
Domantas Sabonis is having an amazing season, leading the league in triple-doubles, double-doubles and rebounds. Since January 1st, he’s also led the league in assists. The only big man playing at a higher level right now is Nikola Jokic. Alperen Sengun is waiting in the wings though, and he’s having a breakout third season. Sengun is averaging 21.2 points, 9.4 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.2 steals and 0.7 blocks as a 21 year old to lead the Rockets. A couple of games ago he absolutely cooked Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs for a career-high 45 points. Sengun definitely is more of a natural scorer than Sabonis is, averaging 15.6 FGA per game. Sabonis hasn’t shot that many times in a single season ever, and it took Jokic until his sixth season to do so. This should be a fun battle. Sengun handily won the earlier matchups this season, so hopefully Sabonis has had time to think about that and come back with a little more aggression this time to put the young big in his place.
Deal with the Physicality
The Rockets like to play physically, and that really bothered the Kings the first time these two teams met. Houston was packing the paint, doubling when necessary and just making life hell for the Kings whenever they got the ball. They’ve made a huge jump defensively in one season, going from 29th last year all the way to 7th now. Dillon Brooks sets the tone there but the whole team buys in. Now, it’s a lot easier to guard the Kings when De’Aaron Fox isn’t on the floor and this will be his first and only game of the season against the hometown squad. If Fox can get going early and set the tone, it should open things up for the Kings.
Prediction
The Kings keep the momentum going as De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis both score 30 points and the Kings get some much needed revenge.
Kings 129, Rockets 117
Fan Predictions
Link to Leaderboard (Updated 2/21/24)
No Fan Predictions today since it’s an early game. Back at it on Tuesday though!
