The Sacramento Kings are back in preseason action against the Los Angeles Lakers tonight, again. The Kings played the Lakers in their preseason opener on Monday, a 127-103 loss where very little looked encouraging.
Who: Sacramento Kings @ Los Angeles Lakers
Where: Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA
When: 7:30 PM PT / 10:30 PM ET
Watch: ESPN2
The Kings were without Ben Simmons, Keegan Murray, and Malik Monk is the first preseason game against the Lakers. TBD how many of them will play tonight, but considering all the training camp hype around how Simmons has looked, this game gets considerably more interesting if he’s available. Veteran NBA reporter Marc Spears claims he’s playing, but we’ll see.
There weren’t many positives to come out of preseason game 1, but it’s worth highlighting the play of Darius Acuff and Nique Clifford. Acuff looked really comfortable out there, and from my view, it was his most impressive game as a member of the Kings organization. A low bar considering how early it is in his NBA career, sure, but I was more impressed with his play against the Lakers than anything I saw in summer league. Clifford led the Kings with an efficient 23 points.
None of the veterans looked particularly good, outside of a few decent offensive moments from Zach LaVine. Here’s to hoping that trend doesn’t continue tonight. Veterans have been letting this team down for well over a year now.
Prediction: Kings 116, Lakers 107
Game is on ESPN 2, so I won’t be watching it (I won’t even sail the high seas to watch them cover a pre-season game).
I’ll check the box score tomorrow though. Here’s hoping for something better than… whatever that other game was.
I can’t even watch it on ESPN2.
Its getting pushed back because there is still 7mins left in the football game between South Alabama (3-2) vs Arkansas State (2-3). Start time was 7:30, then 7:45, 7:55, now 8:05.
Looking forward to seeing Coach Doug’s defensive adjustments to shut down the 3pt shooting of the Lakers.
It’s the L****s tonight one more time.
Getting swept would feel like a crime.
Even though this won’t count,
Losing habits will mount.
Let’s escape from our usual slime!
+1 Can’t wait to see their fans again!
Where are Simmons and Keegan
Kicking it with Sabonis and Monk.
I think maybe I read that Keegan is dealing with an undisclosed injury?
If that is true, that is not good. His career is starting to be marked by injuries.
also, it seems like accuff is a brick one or out of every two games at least
hopefully, he doesn’t have the Keegan disease. And hopefully Keegan figures it out from three.
They’re sitting here with me.
WTF, is the Kings+ telecast just the Lakers in game big screen? Seriously?
No score on the TV since it’s just a mirror of the Lakers big screen.
LOL, the Kings are just running Golden One ads over the Lakers in game broadcast during the breaks. What a joke.
aaaaaaand, they’ve now added a score by the end of the 1st quarter. Some intern must be reading this thread.
The team is not good enough to have players sit out. Should use these games to develop some chemistry.
I just don’t see what they see in Flagler.
I didn’t watch the game, but Acuff’s 15 shots to one assist is definitely a number. Is Acuff having trouble running the team, or does the coach think he’s so good he doesn’t even need to work on being a point guard?
It seemed like his goal in yesterday’s game was to get his shots up. I think we’ll see a much different flow to the offense when he’s playing with Sabonis. But the concern is legit if Sabonis has any health troubles this year or gets traded at the deadline.
Agreed! I think Acuff and Domas can be strong together. Got to get Lavine out of the starting five if we want to move the ball.
What exactly is the rationale for not playing so many of your expected core players?
At least I didn’t have to mute the game.
Man, take a look in the mirror, Vivek.
https://basketnews.com/news-257019-kings-owner-reportedly-turned-a-team-dinner-into-a-roast-of-the-team.html
It seems like every thing he does is bad. I just want him to go away and not be part of the Kings.
I’m curious (not really) what’s driving Vivek’s feud (or whatever) with the media. He’s decided to spurn 1140 and the rest of the Greater Sacramento media market entirely and now he’s not sending the tv crew on the road in what is, I’m assuming, simply a cost cutting move.
Its weird being the only major professional sports team without a local affiliate broadcast partner, in my opinion. Especially when the team would have made money from the radio deal and in advertising slots. What’s the purpose, to showcase some crappy streaming platform? Its like jazz hands for broadcasting. And I get its just a preseason game but how about sending your team and stop operating like you’re the dumbest owner in the NBA? Also, who’d be surprised VR is behind Domas, Keegan, Monk, etc. not playing in the preseason? And what the hell is the point of that if they’re not hurt? Its kind of proven at this point that players get hurt less when they have a longer ramp up period going into the season, so just… wtf.
I just don’t get how any of these decisions improve the product in any way or actually net savings for the franchise. Vivek with the weird flex, its basically the brand at this point.
Badge Legend