The Sacramento Kings are in Charlotte, facing the Hornets for one of those historically bad-for-the-Kings early starts. But I say historically because the Kings took care of business in an early start (a weekend early start, no less) against the Miami Heat on Saturday.
The injury report is clear for the Kings, and they will only be without Keon Ellis, Neemias Queta, and Chima Moneke, who are all currently with the Stockton Kings. As for the Hornets, they’ll be without LaMelo Ball (Afraid Of Fox Left Ankle Sprain), and both terry Rozier and Cody Martin are listed as Questionable.
When: Monday, October 31, 4:00 PM PT
Where: Spectrum Center, Charlotte, NC
TV: NBC Sports California
Radio: Sactown Sports 1140
For Your Consideration
Halloween Frights: Listen, I am scared. It is Halloween and there are terrifying things all around us, but none of it is scarier than the feeling of impending doom that the Kings are about to lose a game they very much should win. The Hornets are likely missing both their best point guard (Ball) and their second best point guard (Rozier) who happens to be leading their team in scoring. The Hornets are 3-3, so it’s not like their an automatic win, but they’ve been struggling to start the year. If the Kings want to be a real contender for the play-in or the playoffs, these are the games they need to win.
And I’ve just been a Kings fans long enough for that to be terrifying.
Prediction
De’Aaron Fox feasts, the refs allow Sabonis to defend someone without immediately blowing the whistle, everyone spends the whole night asking Gordon Hayward if he cut his hair like that for a costume.
Kings 130, Hornets 119
In Charlotte a non-zero chance
For a win—at least at first glance.
On Halloween night
Let’s not have a fright.
Just give us a thread where we dance!
Anybody else’s Comcast guide showing soccer being on instead of the Kings game?
Mine shows the Kings game at 4:00pm with Premiere League soccer taking over at 5:00 pm. (I’m assuming we’ll be so far ahead at halftime that they’ll switch to something more competitive to keep the audience watching!) 🎃
Probably because Comcast couldn’t find it’s own (collective) ass if it used both hands and a flashlight.
Um, what is that?
Kings:
Every game is a could-win game from here on out.
Welcome to basketball helloween!
“I thought it was pronounced ‘Halloween?'”
When Bouknight is in, Davion needs to be on the floor. If there’s a way for Mitchell to get right, it’ll be by destroying the psyche of one of his previous victims.
That said, DM will score fifteen points, or Bouknight will get thirty.
No driving allowed for Bouknight.
Lock him up, Davion.
If we’re talking Bouknight, he shouldn’t be driving anywhere after that DWI 2 weeks ago.
This. And Holmes needs to get his mojo back against Nick Richards.
I’d love to see it.
I read an article a couple of weeks ago that called Holmes the best backup center in the league, and I believe that this can be true. He’s had a terrible year, but things resolved in his favor, as they should have. Everyone is unique in how they deal with difficult circumstances, but I’d bet he’s going to break through his funk.
That said, his push shot against Miami was just a mechanical mess, which is probably about confidence, too. Holmes is tough, he’s just got to find a way to reach down and get at it.
I might be wrong, but I coulda sworn Holmes didn’t play too well whenever he wore the goggles in the previous season.
Maybe he just needs to refocus.
I see the correlation, but don’t agree with the causation. He got the goggles after being smashed in the face over and over, and while his partner was falsely accusing him of terrible crimes. That’ll wreck your flow.
But if it’s the goggles, he’s got to go.
Yes, for sure–the goggles were post-face smash.
And for sure, I totally understand that the crazy circumstances could affect his performance.
I’m wondering if Harrison is affected by Fatherhood? Didn’t he and his wife just have a baby this offseason? He couldn’t have gotten “old” over the break…?
(Searching for superhero gif of father with baby)
Sure would like to see Keon Ellis get some run.
I mean, we already have like a 13+ man rotation, so why not one more?
Domas will exterminate the pesty Hornets
(rolling my cat eyes at Quentin Tarantino)
Which wing torches us from 3 tonight? Hayward or Oubre?
Too early for should-win games. Charlotte is 3-3 and playing at home. Winnable game? Sure. Guaranteed win? There are no guarantees.
I guarantee the 3rd quarter will be the Kings’ worst quarter.
Ooh, wanna roll the dice on that one again?!!
D’oh!
So glad I didn’t bet $10k in Vegas on this, haha.
Crazy!
Good crazy.
A middling talent team like the Hornets missing their THREEE best stars (Ball, Bridges, Rozier) SHOULD be a win for a team like the Kings who are pushing for playoff spot in the west.
Seriously though, this Hornets team reminds me of nearly every Kings team over the past 16 seasons. They look to be a shoe-in for the 7-10th pick in the draft.
Badge Legend