Sacramento’s last chance to make the Playoffs starts tonight as the Kings host the Dallas Mavericks. The winner will face the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday for the 8th seed. Can the Kings make it two years in a row of winning the Play-In game at home or will this season add yet one more disappointment to the tally?
Let’s talk Kings basketball!
When: 7:00 PM PT, Wednesday, April 16th, 2025
Where: Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, CA
TV: ESPN
Radio: Sactown Sports 1140 AM
For Your Consideration
This hasn’t been the season any of us had hoped for, but the Kings still have a chance to make it to the playoffs, and in doing so would technically make this season more successful than last. It’s a low bar to cross, especially since the reward for gaining the 8th seed would be a matchup against a heavily favored 68 win Thunder team. To get there though, they’ll have to first eliminate the Dallas Mavericks, a team with an even more disappointing season than the Kings.
Almost one year after going to the NBA Finals, the Mavericks are now on the brink of elimination as the 10th seed in the Western Conference. Luka Doncic is gone, traded to the Lakers in one of the most shocking trades in not just NBA history but in sports in general. Kyrie Irving is also out for the season with a torn ACL. Anthony Davis, the main return for Doncic, got hurt in his first game as a Maverick, and while he is now back, hasn’t been able to do enough yet to justify the trade in any capacity.
For the Kings, this is a different looking Mavericks team than they’ve faced all season. Sacramento swept the season series 3-0, but each game saw the Mavericks playing incredibly shorthanded. In none of those three games did the Kings have to go up against Anthony Davis or Dereck Lively. Kyrie Irving missed one of those games and left another one early due to suffering the ACL injury that knocked him out of the season. Both Lively and Davis should be available for the Mavericks tonight, providing a huge frontline for the Kings to try to counter, especially with Daniel Gafford as a reserve. Davis is still one of the best two-way big men in the entire league and will be Dallas’ primary offensive weapon tonight while also likely guarding Domantas Sabonis on the other end.
The Mavericks aren’t nearly as well situated in the backcourt however, especially without Irving. Max Christie, another part of the Doncic trade, has been solid but is more of a defensive player than an offensive weapon. Klay Thompson can still get hot, but isn’t the type to generate a ton of his own offense. Thompson famously went 0-10 against the Kings in their Play-In matchup against the Warriors last season and will probably be looking for a bit of revenge on that front, but hopefully the Kings are familiar enough with his game to keep him at least room temperature. Spencer Dinwiddie will likely start at PG and is capable of having big games, but is also very streaky and not a particularly reliable playmaker or three point shooter.
For the Kings, they’ll be entering the game a bit more shorthanded than Dallas for the first time this season as both Malik Monk and Jake LaRavia will be out. Sacramento will need big games from both Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan to win this one. DeRozan in particular was very good in all three games against the Mavericks this season, averaging 25.3 points on 58% from the field and 50% from three over three matchups. DeRozan also hit the game-winner against Dallas in Sacramento’s overtime comeback victory against them. Hopefully DeRozan can regain that mojo, as he’s struggled from the field over the last few games of the season, shooting just 32.7% in the last three games. Two of those bad performances came against the Nuggets and Clippers who were both able to put tall, long defenders on him to bother his shot without fouling. Fortunately the Mavericks don’t have the same defensive weapons as those two teams so both DeRozan and LaVine should hopefully get plenty of open opportunities.
Domantas Sabonis has historically had some pretty good performances against Anthony Davis, and I would love to see him get aggressive on that end early. This is one of those matchups where it also helps that the Kings now have Jonas Valanciunas, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Kings throw out a double-big lineup against the Mavericks at times in this game, especially since the Mavericks will do the same. The Kings actually first used that double-big lineup in another matchup against the Mavericks this season to help them force Overtime. That time the Kings had the height advantage though and this time both squads will be a little more evenly matched.
The supporting cast could prove to be the difference maker in this one. Last season, the Kings saw Keon Ellis and Keegan Murray both have huge games against the Warriors. Murray tallied 32 points and Ellis added 15 while both played suffocating defense on Golden State’s backcourt of Curry and Thompson. Big performances from non-stars are more important than ever right now, and whichever team gets their supporting cast to show up more will likely take this one.
Fortunately the Kings have the 6th man on their side and a Kings crowd hungry for at least one more beam can give them the energy they need to take this one. It should be a fun battle.
Prediction
Anthony Davis has a monster game, but it’s not enough to overcome Dallas’ lack of other weapons or the constant pressure from Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan.
Kings 121, Mavericks 114
For those keeping track, after yesterday’s results, the only way for the Kings to keep their pick is for Dallas to win today and beat Memphis for the last playoff spot AND for ATL to lose their next matchup AND for the Kings to win the tie breaking coin flip. In other words, an incredible long shot. At this pont might as well gun for the 8th spot and an ass kicking by OKC.
To clarify, that’s the only way to keep the pick unless they were to jump in the lottery.
If the Kings end up 14th they’ll have a 2.4% chance at the top 4. If they end up 13th they’d have a 5.7% chance at the top 4.
More than double the chances of winning the lottery!
a nearly 100% increase in the odds.
They’ve practically drafted a 2025 Top 4 pick
I went to the tankathon website and pressed the button to sim the lottery 16 times. Kings got the #2 pick on the 16th try. Anything can happen!
I probably punched it forty times before Sacramento jumped up to four.
The wins against Cleveland and Detroit were a hell of a lot of fun, but I’d not have been mad had they lost both. A lot of talent in this draft, and it sucks not having that to look forward to.
I captured the Flagg on the second try.
Grab up some Powerball tickets.
Yeah, I’ve pretty much resigned to the fact that even if mathematically there is still a chance of keeping our pick, it’s looking most likely that it’s gone. Might as well just try to win the two play-in games.
The Mavs seemed to tank their last game
Perhaps to avoid feeling the shame
Of Mavs fans all ranting—
“Fire Nico!”, they’re chanting—
For the Luka trade, he is to blame!
+1 Goose the Mavericks!
&ct=g
Ride the Mavs!
It’s win or go home for the Kings
Fans are feeling conflicting things
Some want the playoffs
Some want mass layoffs
Right now there’s no path to chasing rings!
I wonder how the atmosphere at the arena would’ve been if the Kings had to go to Dallas for the play-in game, especially after the closed door comments Nico Harrison made yesterday regarding the trade.
Can you elaborate on what “closed door comments” means? Was Harrison overheard, as opposed to being on the record? I hadn’t gotten the impression that anything he said was meant to be private, but I’ve not spent much time on the story.
Go Kings!
Do we need to lose the game for the Kings to have a shot to keep their pick? Then I’m guess I’m rooting for that. Luckily my thoughts have no bearing on what will actually happen. If they win, I’ll root for them to beat the Grizzlies and not lose a lottery pick.
I guess it would be good for Keegs, Keon and Friar to get some post season burn. Oh fuck it lets rain 3s on OKC, 4-3 baby lol
Please offense–don’t just go iso/stand-around and predictable DHO!
Please defense–don’t jump out and foul on desperation close-outs, keep you man in front of you, and get those 50/50 balls!
As a fan that wants this team to chase championships I value this play in series and the appearance in the first round of the playoffs. An appearance in the playoffs lends to credibility with other players in the NBA. It is a step towards relevance in the minds of players that could potentially be Kings. It is chipping away at the reputation of this franchise one step at a time. It is way too late to tank. It is way too late to see a viable path to a lottery pick.
The draft is part of building a solid franchise but a very unlikely one for this team in the next draft. Take the obvious and most probable step in front of us and get into the playoffs. This is definitely achievable. Start achieving the basic tasks that lead to relevance.
I think that Sacramento can win a game against OKC. They’re due!
Play in game for a play in game!
The stuff of legend
ESPN game tonight. Probably end up with Mark Jones. At least we’ll get to hear about how Jae Crowder introduces the rookies to the refs for the twenty-somethingth time and his retread stories about the Mavs. Hope some Kings are hotter than fish grease and not the kind you find in the freezer.
Someone will be put in the weight room!
I’m a fan of multiple synonyms to describe something, frequent misuses of words, and him just missing stuff:
(Ball rolls out of bounds) “Foul on Keegan Murray.”
“Kings lead by four, wait, Kings down two.”
Oh! And restaurant recommendations for places that aren’t sponsors. I can’t believe the organization hasn’t put the clamps on it. Why spend ninety grand on a campaign if the guy calling the game is going to talk about two better restaurants between your ad playing?
I’m sure he’s a very nice man, but it’s lost on me because of the annoyances. Frankly, I think he’s overscheduled, and calling more games than he can handle. I’d rather kick ass for three games than make a bunch of mistakes over five.
I saw a social post of Jones sitting on the beach today and mentioning that he called 100 games this season. That’s a hell of a lot of games, and not to mention the prep he likely puts in before he calls them.
Here it is:
If Kayte was on that beach with him, he would only have been able to get 1/5 of that post off.
Wow Mark Jones definitely staying on brand as a nerdy white chick, amazing stuff here
This must be why he tells the same 3-4 stories about a team all season. Can be okay for a national broadcaster. Is very annoying, for me anyway, on a team broadcast.
How many games do you think he called for Sac? About 60% of them?
OT: McNair rumors
Based on some brief internet research, Booth seems to have a decent track record with Denver, but it’s nothing amazing. The ownership group (similar to Vivek) became more tight with cash. I don’t know if he would be any better than Vivek, I mean Monte, as the GM of Sacramento.
If we get Booth then we can all enjoy Nicolas Cage’s face on Mike Brown’s head. It wasn’t my discovery, but once you see it, you can’t unsee it.
The Son of Krapton will save the Kangz
I’ve seen this before! 😉
Once that meme was pointed out, I will never unsee it.
god damn, nailed it in one.
Getting Brown Cage doesn’t excite me but I enjoy the joke!
Sorry, longer post, but first, saw this on Reddit (via Twitter):
[Scotto] Heading into the Play-In Tournament, Sacramento Kings executive Monte McNair is on the hot seat, league sources told HoopsHype. Should McNair’s tenure in Sacramento end, many in league circles have pointed to former Denver Nuggets general manager Calvin Booth as a potential candidate.
Then in the Reddit thread some people were saying Booth had actively made bad moves that really hurt the Nuggets, so I dove into his moves and mostly found they were meh but not bad. Posted the below, but thought it would be an interesting jumping off point here:
To be fair, I had that same perception in my head, but just looked up his tenure: https://www.basketball-reference.com/executives/boathca01x.html
It was more meh, than good or bad. He inherited most of the core pieces, so it’s hard to give him much if any credit for the Nuggets success. Jokic, Murray, Gordon, and Malone were already there. However, if you dig in a bit:
Great:
+ N/A
Good:
+ Drafted Christian Braun with the 21st pick
+ Traded JaMychal Green for Peyton Watson + picks
+ Traded Will Barton & Monte Morris for KCP
+ Signed Bruce Brown
Bad:
+ Traded Ryan Dunn for future 2nd round picks
Meh, but noteworthy:
+ Signed DeAndre Jordan
+ Made 4 team trade where they shuffled a lot of mid players around and got Thomas Bryant
+ Signed Reggie Jackson
+ Signed Russell Westbrook
+ Were part of 4 team Klay trade, but mostly shifted Reggie Jackson and a couple of 2nds for cap space and trade exemptions
Obviously people can nitpick certain categorizations, but the real sin here is the lack of great and the slow burning of Jokic’s prime. Not really anything bad on his part of a lot of head scratching moves. Like we can hate on signing Jackson of Westbrook, but these were pretty dirt cheap deals. Maybe there was a better veteran fit, but hard to see a home run coming in for $3M.
And really he never did a great job of filling in depth. As Gordon and Murray have had pretty typical injuries that teams have to weather, they are still rolling out guys like Westbrook, Strawther, Nnaji, etc.
Bad:
They got Da’ron Holmes back in that trade, right? Holmes tore his Achilles and hasn’t played in a game yet.
Good to Great:
Traded Gary Harris, RJ Hampton, and a future first for Aaron Gordon.
That was the GM before Booth.
Don’t think so. Booth promoted to GM in 2020. Gordon traded in 2021. Per the interwebs
You beat me to it!
This is an “it’s complicated.” Booth may have gotten the title of GM, but Tim Connelly was still President of Basketball Operations and the real decision maker.
Connelly left after the 2022 season and Booth took over.
So bref and I started with that draft, but understand why others might count sooner. Certainly he was an integral part of the front office.
Booth was named GM in Denver July of 2020. Aaron Gordon was traded to the Nuggets in 2021.
Ah, I thought Basketball Refenrence showed 2022. Well, that trade was a good move!
Does Booth get the blame for letting KCP go? Or could they just not afford him in Free Agency?
From what I can recall, it was not a popular decision, but Nuggets fans blamed ownership. It was a cost saving move. That being said, Christian Braun has had an amazing season in KCP’s place.
That kid can ball.
Serious question for the whole spectrum of Kings fans, from those who want to tank to those who are eternally optimistic: Does a win tonight, and/or against the Grizz, and/or a few against OKC provide any positive momentum going into the offseason and beyond? Are there some of us who really think the Kings can beat OKC in round 1?
I guess my question is, what are the Kings playing for right now?
I can’t see them winning anything against OKC. I suppose its possible they win 1 if everything goes their way, but beyond that, I just don’t see it happening.
As someone on the spectrum, since a full-on rebuild is out the question…I would like see the Kings make the playoffs for experience sake (Keon, Keegan, DC, IJ) and it would be fantastic if the FO determines through a playoff series with OKC that Domas and LaVine can work together but that DDR is not a good fit and they ultimately decide that he should be moved in the off-season for a starting quality PF (allowing Murray to move back to SF).
Solid take. I like it.
The Play-In should be 3 teams battling for 8 seed. 9 would play 10 and then winner would play 8, that would be it.
Subpar team, just old! Let’s go Kangz!
According to my friend who is the typical Kings fan, we should be optimistic for next year, and the guys just need to gel. The delusion of this fanbase is ridiculous, I tried to explain there is no hope but in the end I let him believe.
Davion looking good in the other play in game.
Good thing we got rid of him for nothing and need a pg.
Lol. Kangz.
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