The Sacramento Kings continue their six-game road trip with a matchup against the Washington Wizards.
The Kings are coming off a 122-116 loss to the Charlotte Hornets on Monday and are just 3-13 over their last 16 games.
Game Information
Where: Capital One Arena, Washington, DC
When: Wednesday, March 17 at 4:00 p.m. PT
How to watch/listen: NBC Sports California, KHTK Sports 1140 AM
Opposing perspective: Bullets Forever
Projected Starting Lineups
Kings (15-23): De’Aaron Fox, Buddy Hield, Harrison Barnes, DaQuan Jeffries, Richaun Holmes
Wizards (14-24): Russell Westbrook, Bradley Beal, Garrison Mathews, Rui Hachimura, Alex Len
Injuries/Absences
Kings: Hassan Whiteside (health and safety), Robert Woodard II (left hamstring) — QUESTIONABLE; Marvin Bagley III (left hand fracture), Chimeze Metu (wrist) — OUT
Wizards: Raul Neto — QUESTIONABLE; Thomas Bryant, Ish Smith — OUT
The terrible injury luck continues for Marvin Bagley III. The third-year forward suffered a fracture in his left hand and is out indefinitely. Bagley is averaging 13.9 points and 7.4 rebounds this season but could be on his way out after yet another injury that will keep him out of the lineup for an extended period of time.
The Kings did a good job of controlling the paint against the Hornets, outscoring Charlotte 68-54, but another fourth quarter meltdown cost the team the game. Sacramento was outscored 31-20 over the final 12 minutes. Sacramento led by seven with 4:34 left in the game, but the Hornets went on a 19-6 run to close things out.
Head coach Luke Walton said fatigue might have played a role in the fourth quarter collapse. Other than Bagley, the rest of the Kings starters played at least 36 minutes on Monday.
“I know I play our guys heavy minutes,” Walton said. “Whether it’s tired legs or just we’ve got to find that confidence again down the stretch, that’s something that we have to get better with.”
It looks like Tyrese Haliburton could replace Bagley in the starting lineup. The standout rookie’s play has dropped off since returning from injury. Haliburton is averaging just 6.7 points over the past three games and shooting just 30.4 percent from the field.
“I’ve been awful,” Haliburton said. “Just trying to figure it out right now, get my rhythm back, because I thought I was playing pretty well before I got hurt. I’m just playing really bad right now.”
Haliburton should be able to shake off the rust after missing two weeks with the injury.
The good news for the Kings is that the Wizards are struggling as well. Washington has only one win in its last seven outings and has fallen down the Eastern Conference standings.
It should be a high-scoring affair. The Kings and Wizards are the two-worst defensive teams in the NBA, ranking 29th and 30th in points allowed per game.
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