The last time these two teams met, the Kings came out on top in what felt like one of the best wins of the season. Since then however, the Kings have won just two games, while the Cavaliers continue to maintain their hold on the 1st spot in the Eastern Conference. Could we be in for another surprise or will tonight simply be business as usual?
Let’s talk Kings basketball!
When: Sunday, April 6th, 3:00 PM PT
Where: Rocket Arena, Cleveland, OH
TV: NBA TV, NBC Sports California
Radio: Sactown Sports 1140 AM
For Your Consideration
I’m surely not alone in saying how surprised I was that the Kings managed to beat the Cavaliers a couple weeks ago, especially as they were without both Domantas Sabonis and Zach LaVine. DeMar DeRozan led the way in that game with 27 points, but every starter finished with double digits, including 22 points and some huge clutch time buckets from Malik Monk as well. Rookie Devin Carter had his best game of the season against the Cavs, scoring 16 points to go with 5 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals. The Kings were largely able to hold Cleveland’s offense in check. While both Evan Mobley (31 points) and Donovan Mitchell (26 points) had good games, there wasn’t really anybody else that got going. And while Cleveland made a high percentage of their 3PA (38.2%), they only shot 34 attempts in total, well below their season average of 41.4 a game.
The Kings team coming into Cleveland tonight is once again desperate for a victory if they hope to maintain their standing in the Play-In race. Right now they have a two game lead on the Phoenix Suns, but their remaining schedule until the final game against Phoenix is daunting. After facing the Cavaliers tonight, they will then head to Detroit, followed by three final home games against the Nuggets, Clippers and then the Suns. Depending on how this final stretch goes, that final game against Phoenix could be a pseudeo Play-In for the Play-In.
The Kings caught the Cavaliers in a bit of a lull last time, amidst their only losing streak of four games all season. They’ve gone 6-1 over their last 7 games and only need one more win to clinch the #1 seed in the East. This is the best non-LeBron James led Cavaliers team of all time, and it’s arguably the deepest Cavaliers team ever. Once again I will be very surprised if the Kings come out of this on top, but losing to the Wizards and beating the Cavaliers in the same trip is the most Kings thing imaginable.
Prediction
Your guess is as good as mine.
Kings 119, Cavaliers 113
Can lightning strike a pile of poop? Twice?
Sorry, Aykis. No disrespect intended towards you, or any TKHer.
The Cavs will have little to gain
So they could rest their stars in the main.
May not even matter
When we come out flatter;
Our outlook is nothing but pain!
+1 Expecting lightning to strike twice?
&ct=g
Let’s see how the Kings land in The Land.
Might be a land mine!
LET’S GO 0-5 TO KEEP THE DRAFT PICK ALIVE!!!
WE CAN DO THIS!!!
Does losing the draft pick this season open up more options for trading future draft capital this summer?
I was hoping to watch who IMO would be a great candidate to start at point guard for the Kings next year. I just looked at the injury report for the Cavaliers and noticed that Ty Jerome is listed as day to day. Hope he plays today so I can get a better idea if I am right.
The pick will still be owed next year 1-10, so it does delay future draft capital. Put me in the camp that the Kings need every pick that can retain, especially in this year’s draft. I’d prefer to keep this year’s pick AND next year’s pick and then have 2 second rounders convey to ATL. Kings have to build through the draft, not trade their draft picks away.
I have resigned myself to the fact that the organization is going to do whatever it can to “stay competitive” and not do any kind of rebuild, so I think they want all the picks possible to use to try and achieve their goal. (I don’t agree with that route, so I will work within their parameters when looking at future roster moves)
I expect them to use the picks and current players to improve the roster (Ja, Trae, Zion, Markannen, etc) this offseason.
No Keegan today.
Badge Legend