The Sacramento Kings continue their 6-game road trip as they head to the Big Apple for a showdown against the New York Knicks. The road trip started with a loss that you could see coming the moment the schedule was released, a back to back requiring travel from Sacramento to Denver is a tall order for any team. The Kings at least gave the Nuggets a fight, which was nice to see, but the schedule won’t be doing the Kings any favors anytime soon. The Knicks are Game 2 of this road trip that will keep the Kings away from home for another week and a half. It won’t get better after that, either. 16 of Sacramento’s next 22 games are on the road. That stretch runs until mid-March. All-Star break will come as a welcome rest opportunity for the Kings, if you’re like me and already looking for silver linings if De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis get snubbed. Speaking of De’Aaron Fox, did you see him holding both hands in obvious pain during the Denver game? He’s on the injury report as Questionable with what the Kings are calling a sprained thumb. And yeah, it’s on his right hand, the opposite hand of the 90-degree pinky finger he’s been playing through all season. Fox is reportedly expected to try to play through it, but who knows how much it will impact his ball-handling and shooting. And yet, despite the road trip, despite Fox being even more banged up, my spirits remain high. The vibes are immaculate and I believe this team can overcome the odds and play hard every night, no matter what.
Let’s talk Kings basketball!
When: Saturday, January 25th, 4:30 PM PST
Where: Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
TV: ESPN, NBC Sports California
Radio: Sactown Sports 1140 AM
For Your Consideration
The Knicks are going to be a difficult matchup for the Kings. Josh Hart is listed as questionable, but several other Kings-killers will be active. Jalen Bruson’s physicality and uncalled offensive fouls ability to create separation are always a challenge for Sacramento’s guards. Team with size, length, and active defenders tend to give Sacramento trouble, and the Knicks are rolling out OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges, the prototypical wings that disrupt Sacramento’s offense. Karl-Anthony Towns’ ability to get hot from three, especially if the defense collapses the paint to stop a driving guard, is the stuff of Kings nightmares.
But all is not lost. Domantas Sabonis is at his best against another big name center, and I expect him to attack KAT early and often. If De’Aaron Fox can play, he seems to always have big games in the Garden. Malik Monk loves the big stage too. And Doug Christie has Keegan Murray and Keon Ellis to throw at Brunson, a devastating 1-2 defensive punch to slow down a dominant guard. The Kings will need to play hard, play smart, and play physical. A month ago I would have been a lot more worried about Sacramento’s ability to do that, but Doug Christie has these Kings playing a new brand of basketball, and it’s exactly the type of ball they need to play against New York.
Prediction
Fox’s double-hand-injuries somehow correct the flaw in his three point shooting, and he goes 8-of-10 from deep. Cam Payne has a career high for reasons nobody can understand. The Kings win anyway.
Kings 132, Knicks 119
Let’s go get this
everything bagelbread.Also, is today’s game on ESPN?
New York Pizza, Cheesecake, Manhattan clam chowder, even Buffalo wings –
I hope the Kings eat (win)!
NBA.com has ESPN carrying the Paris game (Wemby Spurs v. Rik_Smits Pacers in some far off place) right now. ABC/ESPN is listed for three other games:
Nuggets v TWolves
Celtics v. Mavs
Lakers v. Warriors
Kings on local coverage, 4:30P only
I guess Fox is trying to play?
Fox chasing that All NBA-money…
Coach Thibs is always the same,
Overusing his starters each game.
Right now they’re well-rested
So we’re gonna be tested
For that road win we’re looking to claim!
+1 Don’t let KAT out of the bag!
&ct=g
Nix the Knicks!
The Knicks have a lot of talent in a sweet mix of All-Star talent (KAT, Brunson, Bridges) and All defense (OG and Bridges) and the always fun to watch Josh Hart (out today).
Thibs has them playing well as they adapt to an upcoming playoff run – this season without Randle and DiVincenzo and Hartenstein. Maybe Mitchell Robinson makes it back in time. It looks like NYK, BOS, CLE in the East – maybe Indy can repeat their last playoffs, maybe magic.
A lot of season left, I know.
Sac has traditionally fared poorly at MSG. It’s a big stage, and we know an injured Fox – if he plays, will try and show his stuff. Monk, the same. I expect Domas and Keegan to be the same as usual.
Keon mentioned his end of gsme play against Jalen Brunson where he got duped and I think it’s interesting he is self annoyed enough to add voice to this.
Could be interesting
It’s a 3 Point League
Knicks are 6th in 3FG%, 6th in 3PM, 25th in 3PA. Kings are 21st, 20th, 21st in those categories. As a bottom 3rd 3 point team who are 9th in FG% and 2nd in FT% maybe their strategy there can change (or get better 3 point shooters). Nah! pass up the under the basket layup and send it to the corner. Sigh.
Light that Beam! Go Kings!
We didn’t fare too well against Nuggets but Jokic was playing out of his mind and the travel seemed to have definitely affected their energy to start the game. KAT’s having a good season but Domas usually does pretty well against him, I think we have a pretty good shot tonight. This is that adversity they need to rise above, right here. The meat grinder is trying to wear these boys down, let’s hope the Coaching staff has them prepared and dialed in.
Let’s go Kings!
I really don’t like the matchups for this one. This Knicks team has the kind of pieces to really give the Kings fits. They are also a dark horse team to come out of the East if they can stay healthy.
Agreed, feels like the odds are heavily stacked against the Kings today. A competitive game would be great, a win would be superb.
They need to get the W. Moral victories are cool and all, but they need to keep getting wins against top teams.
Since Doug took over, they have strung together tough wins against Memphis, Miami, Houston, and at Boston. This would be another nice one to add to the collection and I believe they’ll fight like heck for this one. I’m not writing the game off at all, I just think it’s a tall order at MSG. Nearly as challenging as taking the Celtics at TD Garden.
I think the Knicks are a good team, but I think we can guard them OK. I like Domas on KAT. Murray works on almost everyone. I’d like to see the rookie get some minutes and Keon to get a whole bunch. I think we can get in the paint on this team with the quickness of Fox and Monk and hopefully Keon and Keegan will hit threes at a decent percentage. It will be interesting to see if Demar can do his thing against a lot of wings that on paper are the type of guys you would want covering him if you were an opposing coach.
Gotta avoid the slow starts. This team seems too like to play from behind, far behind. That approach isn’t sustainable, especially on the road.
And against a good defensive team that is at home.
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