The Kings kick off a six-game road trip tonight in Denver, their longest trip of the season to date. Hopefully the Kings can come out the other side looking just as good as they came in.
Let’s talk Kings basketball!
When: Thursday, January 23rd, 6:00 PM PST
Where: Ball Arena, Denver, CO
TV: NBC Sports California
Radio: Sactown Sports 1140 AM
For Your Consideration
The Kings and Nuggets meet tonight in a battle between two of the hottest teams in the NBA. The Kings have won 10 of 12 games under interim head coach Doug Christie, including a remarkable 18 point comeback win against the Golden State Warriors last night. The Nuggets meanwhile have won 11 of their last 14 games, with two of those losses coming during games in which Nikola Jokic didn’t play.
Sacramento is obviously at a disadvantage tonight coming into Denver on the second night of a back to back, but if there’s one thing that Doug Christie’s Kings have shown, it’s that they don’t have much quit in them. This is the start of a very tough six-game road trip, and a win tonight would be one of the best of the season. The Kings and Nuggets have met once before this season, with the Kings suffering a heartbreaking 130-129 loss despite holding a double digit lead with 4 minutes left. Sacramento was able to hold Jokic to one of his worst shooting performances of the season as he scored just 20 points on 8-19 from the field, but Jamal Murray came up big in the clutch with 28 points and the eventual game-winner. The Kings didn’t have Keegan Murray in that game though, and tonight both teams will enter with a relatively clean bill of health for all the major rotation players.
Denver is one of the best offensive teams in the league, ranking 4th in Offensive Rating. They’ve been even better over their last 14 games though, ranking 1st with a 123.3 offensive rating, 2.4 points per 100 possessions better than the 2nd place Cavaliers during that timespan. They’ve also cranked it up defensively, ranking 6th during that same timeframe compared to just 16th for the entire season. Now, Denver’s schedule during this stretch hasn’t been the toughest (their only win against a team with a better record than the Kings was against the Clippers), but they are still undeniably rolling. Jokic is somehow playing even better than he was during his three MVP campaigns, averaging a career-best 30.1 points to go with 13.2 rebounds, 9.9 assists, 1.9 steals and shooting 47.5% from three as well. Russell Westbrook has been rejuvenated as a supporting piece in Denver, providing a steady dose of everything and young guy Christian Braun is starting to figure it out as well, having a breakout year shooting 57.1% from the field for 13.9 points. The Nuggets are as dangerous as anyone in the NBA, with possibly the best player in the NBA, and it’s going to be a tough task to topple them on their home floor.
Denver is one of the most efficient teams in the league offensively, leading the league in FG% and 3P%. However despite their accuracy from distance, they shoot the fewest threes of any team in the league at just 30.9 a game. That’s partly because of how dominant they are inside, leading the league in both Points in the Paint (58.2 a game) and Fastbreak Points (20.0). Theoretically, the Kings are good at countering those two strengths, as they’re the best in limiting fastbreak points at 11.9 (they held the Warriors to 0 yesterday, compared to 28 of their own), and 4th best in Opponent Points in the Paint (44.7). In their first matchup, the Kings won the fastbreak battle 30 to 16, but were crushed in the paint 76 to 58. It was by far the most points in the paint the Kings have allowed all season, and it’s usually not a good sign for the Kings when they let opponents dominate inside. For the season, the Kings are 4-8 when allowing 50+ points in the paint, and 7-13 when allowing 44+. That means the Kings are 16-7 when they manage to hold opponents to below 44 paint points, but that’s easier said than done with threats like Jokic, Westbrook and Aaron Gordon who all love to attack the rim.
If there’s been one common thread in Denver’s 16 losses, it’s been opponent three point shooting. Denver only allows teams to shoot 32.8% in the games they’ve won this year, but in losses, opponents have shot 38.9%. Denver also allows opponents to shoot way more threes than they do, even more than the Kings. Denver’s opponents typically average 9 more attempts from three a game. If the Kings can capitalize and hit their open shots, they’ll have a good chance of winning the game.
All eyes will be on the Sabonis-Jokic matchup, but equally important will be the De’Aaron Fox-Jamal Murray minutes. De’Aaron’s had a rough stretch over the last four games, averaging just 16.3 points and shooting just 33.3% from the field. He’s been making up for it in other areas though, averaging 7.8 assists, 6.0 rebounds, 1.8 steals and a block a game. Still, the Kings need De’Aaron to get back on track to maximize their chances of winning. Murray is equally important for the Nuggets as their second option. The Kings held him in check for most of the game during their first matchup, but it was his tough shotmaking in the clutch that eventually won the game for Denver. I wouldn’t be surprised if we see the Kings throw Keegan at Murray to try to slow him down.
This is gonna be a tough one, and the Kings are definitely underdogs, but this Kings team has a different mentality about them now. Nothing would surprise me at this point, and hopefully the good times can keep on rolling and the Kings can start this road trip off on a bright note.
Prediction
The vibes remain emaculate.
Kings 114, Nuggets 110
I would be shocked if we won tonight. That’s why it was so important to not only get the win yesterday, but to win all three games on this homestand. This six game road trip is going to be brutal, so we needed to stack as many wins as possible beforehand.
Philly and Brooklyn should be automatic wins, so if the Kings were able to steal at minimum one other game, they would at least go 3-3 on the road trip which wouldn’t be awful. We shall see how it goes. But I’m already expecting a loss tonight.
Really? I wouldn’t be shocked at all.
This season has had such a wweird, amazing U-turn, I don’t know what to expect anymore.
Could they be clobbered from the first minute and never get near a lead all game? Sure.
Can they be down double digits at the half and then put the clamps on defensively? Why not?
One thing I know. I love when they play real defense. Love it! Go Kings.
Oh, I would love from them to go out and get the win today. Guess I’m just lowering my expectations for this game specifically.
From Denver Stiffs:
Harsh. Scheduled loss, but if we can keep it close in 4th who knows. Go Kings
I wonder how many games per year Denver gets at home with an opponent on a SEGABABA coming from the west coast?
Which will make the Kings’ win tonight all that more impressive.
I suppose anything is possible. If we could kick the Celts ass in Boston, why not the Nuggs in Denver? Yes it’s segababa and yes the Nuggs are a very good team, but…. Let’s light the beam!
6-0
Schedule is what it is.
But Sac to Mile High Denver will always be a one of the worst back to backs in the NBA.
You’re not wrong, but I have always wondered why no one ever mentions Utah, which is also at elevation. And it’s not that the team sucks, because it was like that when Stockton and Malone ruled the roost, too.
Salt Lake City: 4.265 ft. Denver: 5,280 ft.
When I lived in Shanghai, we took a long train trip to Tibet because that was what we were told would be the best way to acclimate to the elevation and not get sick.
(Unfortunately, there were so many smokers on the train that my lungs were getting beat up. I searched for train conductors to complain to, but found out they were the ones smoking. ….right next to a sign that read “NO SMOKING”!)
Anyway, if there were more days inbetween these games, instead of a SEGABABA, maybe the Kings could’ve taken a long train ride into Denver.
Jack Kerouac that shit!
I’m finally planning on doing my Peru trip for late April/early May this year (had to be delayed from a couple years ago because of the civil unrest at the time), and I hope I will be okay with the altitude. Cusco’s elevation is over 11,000 feet, so I guess I’ll see if I get altitude sickness. Machu Picchu is actually lower in elevation than Cusco, but I’m hoping the couple days I’ll be there will make me adjust before I do the Inca Trail hike. People have said cocoa tea helps a lot, apparently.
Hell, if you can hike into and back out of the Grand Canyon…I believe in you, Klam!
Either way, Cocoa tea sounds great.
Ha, true, but my knees were killing me for days after that hike. Probably will just need to train better and use trekking poles this time around.
Sorry I wasn’t the best hiking partner. I just wanted to get out of there as soon as possible before sun down.
Let me know how the trekking poles work out!
Not at all, it was all good. I wanted to go back up as fast as possible, but I didn’t anticipate my knees hurting in the middle of the hike. First time that ever happened to me.
Glad we made it out in the end. I was actually afraid I did some damage to my body long-term. If anything, I learned how to better prepare for a intense hike like that.
Did Yosemite’s Mist Trail up to Nevada Falls with trekking poles, felt like I had superpowers lol
You may already know about this, but one thing that really, really helps battle altitude sickness is to “hike high, sleep low”, meaning that wherever you happen to camp for the night, hike up about 100 meters higher during the day and stay up there for about an hour before coming back down to camp for the night. Worked like a charm for me last year on my Everest base camp trek. The one night I didn’t do this I woke up in the middle of the night hyperventilating. All other nights I slept soundly and felt great the next day.
You climbed Everest??
Didn’t climb Everest, just hiked to base camp (17,500 ft).
What was the hike elevation gain? 8-9K feet?
Started the hike at Lukla village (9,300 feet). Got to base camp (17,500 feet) in 3 days and stayed at Gorak Shep village (16,900 feet) for the night. Hiked to peak of Kala Patthar mountain (18,500 feet, good Everest view point) the next morning before heading back to Lukla. One of the ironies of Everest base camp is that you can’t really see Everest very well from there (other mountains in the way) so many people go up Kala Patthar mountain, which you can do without any special mountain climbing gear.
Another irony – Mike Brown’s motto for this season had been “we’re all climbing together” our something like that. He even brought in a well-known mountain climber to give the team a pep talk in the preseason. The team is finally climbing together now… under Doug.
I have re-named the stairs at home “Everest” and I climb them every evening. Small victories for a small man.
Do you do this when you reach the top of the stairs?
My wife took a video:
That’s amazing. Good for you RPO, what an achievement esp up high with super thin air
Thanks for the info! And that’s crazy that you hiked Everest!
RPO Hardcore!
If you get a chance hike to rainbow mountain beautiful and only 17 thousand feet.
When I was in Peru the highest was at Lake Titicaca about 14 thousand feet. 2 days later in the Peruvian jungle. Thought you could walk a hundred miles.
Inca trail hike sounds amazing. it might enable you to arrive at the site early before the crowds of tourists arrive. are you doing the hike in one direction and taking the train in the other? the tea is probably mate de coca. don’t worry, it’s legal.
It’s always been one of my bucket list items. Originally was gonna do it in 2023 but because of the civil unrest had to postpone it. Even though you don’t have to hike the Inca Trail to get to Machu Picchu (you could just take a train to and from), I wanted to do it while I can physically still do strenuous hikes. And I think it’ll be way more rewarding hiking to the site.
The Inca Trail hike is usually a multi-day hike (four days) where you get up super early on the last day to arrive at the sun gate in Machu Picchu before the big crowds come. We will be taking the train back down once we’re done with visiting the site, so it’s only hiking one way (don’t think I’d be able to hike more days after that, lol).
I think that’s the best way to do it. I took the bus, then hiked a half day to the town, then woke up early to hike up the stairs. why don’t we have a word for “wake up early” in English? In Spanish there’s a word for it: madrugar.
Train is out, but could always do the other “Jack Kerouac that shit” with Benzedrine!
I’m on board!
If you are wondering about your fitness – pulse oximeters are very inexpensive on Amazon ($15-$20) and might be useful on those mountain hikes/excursions.
Having some acetazolamide (Diamox) in the ol’ medicine kit isn’t a bad idea either if you’re up high enough.
Thanks–I’ll look into it!
Will this give me a …Rocky Mountain High (Colorado)?
It might Fill Up Your Senses
Is Diamox available over the counter, or do you need to get it as a prescription?
It would be The Godfather of all wins.
If we lose I won’t get too upset. But if we lose by just mailing in a performance, It’ll be the Godfather 3 of all battles.
SEGABABA in Denver’s thin air
Just shows that the league doesn’t care
About how they manage
That unfair advantage
With no time to acclimate there!
+1 Make Joker go GaGa!
&ct=g
Last time I was sure we were playing a “scheduled loss” game we ran the Celtics off of their home floor. We have to avoid a large early deficit like the one from yesterday. Hoping to see some strong play from Carter today, maybe even some time guarding DEN’s Murray. Carter’s been kind of underwhelming since the BOS game, imo.
Having Keegan healthy in this one should really help. DDR got abused last time trying to guard Gordon.
I was at the game at G1C – a Monday night during In-Season Tournament/Emirates Cup add on game (unscheduled at year’s start).
The 1st Q was downright fugly. It was an Aaron Gordon-led massacre, embarrassment level. Yet, the Kings fought back! It was the game when DDR fumbled what would have been the game winning dunk and was instead a last second off balance 5 ft jumper. Great game, even though they lost, and IIRC the start of the 5 game losing streak under Mike Brown (+1 with Doug Christie for 6 game streak).
That is an outrageous statline
The dude should be the absolute favorite to win his 4th MVP title.
SGA has been really good, but Jokic is basically averaging a 30 point triple-double with a much worse supporting cast. If he doesn’t get this one, then there needs to be some sort of investigation and change to the MVP voting.
There’s the Best player on the best team voting block that could hurt Jokic this year and has hurt Giannis multiple seasons.
I will say with that stat line it seems like he has to really try hard to only be 4th on the season in double-doubles.
The 3x MVP is having his best season statistically. 4th in double-doubles, 1st in triple-doubles (19, next closest has 9). I get that SGA is on the best team, but his numbers aren’t close to Jokic, imo.
SGA is leading OKC with an amazing season and is easily their best player. The arguably second, possibly third best player has been sidelined for a long stretch (Chet). He would be a worthy recipient, IMO.
Since he’s had the award 3 times many will award it to SGA based on that alone.
Six time award winner: Kareem
Five time award winner: Bill Russell, Michael Jordan (should’ve been six but they gave it to Karl Malone one year (’97) and Barkley one year (’93) and the year they gave it to Mailman, man professed it was they wanted to give the award to someone else)
We call this “Terry Pendleton Syndrome.”
I hope they emaculate on the Nuggets faces!
Denver has been hot lately, but the one team that has been hotter is the Kings. Even on a back to back they cannot be counted out of this game. It will be tough, but they have been winning tough games lately. Go Kings!
OT: I chuckled at the “with the exception of Memphis” line.
https://bsky.app/profile/ohnohedidnt24.bsky.social/post/3lggpydznss2e
Is Jimmy just trolling at this point? Why no Memphis? He doesn’t like the BBQ or something?
I’ve been to Memphis before, the BBQ is reeeeally good.
I’ll second this, the plate of BBQ I had in Memphis might be a top 5 meal in my life.
Kings 124, Nuggets 117 or 121.
We keep it rolling.
Go Kings.
Emaculate means to remove stains, spots, or imperfections. I’m not sure if that was intentional but its fairly appropriate.
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