The Kings are still looking for their first win on this road trip after two tough losses in a row against the Knicks and Celtics. Their visit to Brooklyn is on paper the easiest matchup they’ll see on this trip, but as we’ve seen from the Kings many times this season that hasn’t always mattered.
Let’s talk Kings basketball!
When: Sunday, April 7th, 4:30 PM PT
Where: Barclays Center, Brooklyn, NY
TV: NBC Sports California
Radio: Sactown Sports 1140
Last Time
The Kings last faced the Nets early on in the season back when the Nets were still above .500 and in the playoff race out east. Sacramento won comfortably, 131 to 118 behind 29 points from De’Aaron Fox. Malik Monk and Trey Lyles combined for 38 points off the bench. Mikal Bridges led the way for Brooklyn with 22 ponts.
Three in the Key
Bounce Back
These last two games have been particularly brutal for the way the Kings have lost. The Kings gave up a 21 point lead to the Knicks and then against Boston almost had their own incredible comeback that fell just short in the final minute (even though the NBA confirmed Colby Jones should have gone to the line with 1.7 seconds left…). The Kings now sit at 9th after these two losses with just five games left on the season. Only two of those games come against teams below .500, including tonight. This is not an opportunity the Kings can afford to waste. The Nets aren’t playing for anything but pride at this point, and they’re going to be on the second night of a back to back to boot. The Kings need this one, the Nets don’t. Go out there and take it.
Beware Cam Thomas
The Nets don’t have a ton of firepower. Mikal Bridges is fairly consistent but isn’t really known for his scoring prowess. Dennis Schroder is a good scorer who has hurt the Kings in the past, but the true potential inferno is Cam Thomas. Thomas has been having a breakout season, averaging 22.2 points a night for the Nets. He’s had three 40+ point games on the season and many more 30+ point games. He’s not always efficient but when he’s on he can take over games. The Kings can’t let him get into a rhythm and I’d expect that this will be Keon Ellis’ primary assisgnment.
More Colby?
Rookie Colby Jones hasn’t seen a ton of playing time this season but I thought he brought in a good jolt of energy for the Kings in that comeback attempt against Boston. With Malik Monk and Kevin Huerter out, I’m a bit surprised that Mike Brown hasn’t tried Colby a bit more, especially since Chris Duarte hasn’t been playing particularly well. I’d like to see Jones get a little bit more leash because the Kings desperately need someone who can come off the bench and provide a little bit of a spark; Colby seems like he could fit the bill.
Prediction
The Kings win by the exact same score they did earlier in the season in a random cosmic coincidence.
Kings 131, Nets 118
Fan Predictions
Link to Leaderboard (Updated 2/21/24)
Little room for error now that we’re tied with the Lakers in the loss column. Can’t afford to be losing games like today when you’re fighting just to stay out of the 9th and 10th spot. I saw on Twitter that their post-All Star break record is like 15-7.
They’ve just been eliminated from the play-in and are 5-5 in their last 10 games.
Oh, I was referring to the Lakers being 15-7 post All-Star break.
We are actually in 9th while the Lakers are in 8th after they won last night. If we win tonight we are back in 8th since we have the tie-breaker. We really need this win! At this point we should be shooting for the 7 or 8 spots and trying to avoid 9 or 10.
Lebron not playing against the Wolves tonight either. Kings gotta get this one.
Tonight as we face Brooklyn’s Nets,
Avoid one of those puzzling upsets.
In this game we can thrive
As we’re in the stretch drive.
Just make sure that we have no regrets!
+1 The Kings will score 100+ pts. How many will Brooklyn score?
And Kings can bridge that gap
&ct=g
and make it the 6th spot
(could happen! btw, that gif is showing an investment opportunity- if you want a piece, please contact me- I can get you a special deal)
Excellent title, Akis!
OT: 111-Year-Old British man, John Alfred Tinniswood, is the world’s oldest, after the announcement of the death of former title holder Juan Vicente Perez.
“I knew I would beat him, and now he’s dead,” said Tinniswood.
Tinniswood credited his secret to longevity to luck, moderation, and hatred.
“Hatred,” he said, “is the only thing that lasts.”
Badge Legend