The Sacramento Kings have found themselves a nice comfy spot near the top of the Western Conference standings and wouldn’t you know it, they’re not too keen on giving it up anytime soon. Coming off of a win last night against the second best basketball team ever assembled (first being, this Sacramento squad, of course), the Kings are looking to make it two wins in two days but will be rolling up against a Sixers squad in the middle of their own streak. Winners in eight of their last ten games, the Sixers are healthy, hot and headed towards the top of the East. Can Domas handle the size and skill of Joel Embiid? Can De’Aaron Fox handle James Harden and/or Tyrese Maxey for 30+ minutes? Will Keegan Murray ever miss another shot?!
Let’s talk Kings basketball!
When: Friday, January 20th, 7:00 PM PT
Where: Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, CA
TV: NBC Sports California
Radio: Sactown Sports 1140
For Your Consideration
Maxey-mizing the Opportunity: So the last time the Kings saw the Sixers, the Kings rolled into Philly and absolutely got the breaks beat off of them. The Sixers scored eighty in the first half to the Kings fifty-five, Domas spent most of the night in foul trouble, Huerter/Murray/Barnes combined for 21 points on 8/25 shooting… it was bad. It was ALL bad. Well I’ve got some news for you. Not good news, but news.
The Sixers are better now than they were then.
To start, the team that bodied the Kings last go around now has a one Mr. Tyrese Maxey at their disposal. To continue, this team has just absolutely figured it out since the last time they squared off against Sac, going 14-4 in the stretch since their December 13th match-up. They’re the 8th best rated offense, 3rd best rated defense, have a center in Joel Embiid who is just off the lead for MVP with two Robins to his Batman in Harden and Maxey who could easily lead teams of their own in scoring if the had the opportunity. They’re fantastic from deep, 4th in percentage and 15th in attempts, while holding opponents to the second lowest percentage in the league and 10th least attempts. Swapping triples is just something the Sixers won’t allow. I have to reiterate that their best player is a massive center averaging 33.6 points per game and they’re an elite team from range. Just that alone should put a shiver down your spine. but the fact that they’re a top-3 defense with an infamous loafer in James Harden on top of it is just icing on the immaculate cake that is the Sixers.
Do the Kings have a chance tonight? Absolutely. The refs have been horrible across the board this year and it’s just as likely that Embiid gets a few early foul calls on a hostile court as it is for Domas at home. Keegan Murray is in the middle of the best stretch of his rookie campaign and if he can keep pace with what he’s doing, it goes a long ways in cancelling out a Maxey or Harden. Fox remains ever elusive for defenses. The Sixers, despite the individual greatness of Embiid, are the second worst rebounding team in the league and while the Kings are only a few spots above them in that regard, a night like the one Murray had on the boards could swing a close game in favor of the Beam Boys.
Alright, I work Saturdays and I’m coming down off of the adrenaline high of watching the Kings-Thunder duke it out of for four quarters. Let’s get seven straight, eh?
Prediction
Morey swaps Thybulle for TD and a second prior to the game and Thybulle immediately holds Harden to sub-15 points. Embiid gets in foul trouble early and Doc Rivers gets thrown out for arguing some egregious (and probably wrong calls). Kings thrive on the chaos, Huerter goes into K’Von mode and Domas gets himself a sixth triple double this season.
Kings: 117, Sixers: 112
It’s the end of a Sixers road trip;
Have to hope they let this one slip.
They beat us in Philly—
So bad we looked silly.
That’s a script we’d sure like to flip!
Let’s defy the odds and get to nine games over .500!
Hmm…maybe we’ll have a chance?
Is this dude in the lineup today? If not we have a chance
The Philadelphia 76ers probably would love for him to ref this game.
City of Brothersly love, and all.
Terrible. and as bad as Kevin Cutler who has it in for Fox.
I’d almost rather the Kings punt this game and get ready for Memphis in a couple days. That’s a more important game for seeding and standings purposes anyway.
no
especially if Philly sits players
You play to win the game.
You forget who you are dealing with.
Whaaaaaat?
I think it’s finally time I give in and get a Sabonis jersey. My only qualms are I hate Nike and every time I get a jersey, something happens with the player.
How about one of the brand new Dunkin’ Domas t-shirts at the Kings Herald online store? I’m buying one. They look cool!
I’ve thought about that!
However, I think a jersey is a bigger, bolder statement that I would absolutely wear to the office if/when the Kings make the playoffs. If and when that happens, I am going to be an unbearably, joyfully obnoxious person.
that’s for sure, just maybe not in the way you think. ????
Jerseys are for kids and teens, why get one at all? Grown men wearing jerseys is cringe IMO.
Not as cringe as a grown man yucking another person’s yum
Some people’s yum is yucking others.
You are missed and loved in this forum.
I really don’t like the Philly matchups for Sacramento. 76ers are a contender, but not without their flaws. Not unbeatable by any stretch. I just think the matchups favor them in a challenging way for this roster.
I will be pleasantly surprised if the game is competitive – and will gladly take being wrong.
The Kings are 3.5-point favorites in this one.
I’ll be surprised if the Kings lose.
I’m officially ready to adjust to rooting for a winner.
Keegan – breakout. Keep it up. Don’t rest on this. He does not make many mistakes but did throw it away last night.
Good Malik better show up.
OKC- plays above talent level. Hustles. SGA has changed his body. Plays like DeRozen and pushes off even more. Dort had 15 in first half and 15 for the game + 6 fouls. Giddy is good but not a scoring threat.
Who are the other guys?? Isiah Joe hits 7 three pointers !!!!!! J. Williams- the smaller one looked ok but some big mistakes. Who are these guys??? Kings have much better talent but OKC is a sleeper.
Run lots of offensive stuff and some trick defense. Weird match ups.
SGA is a beast, love his game.
SGA, Ja and Fox will make for fun battles in the West the next 5 years.
SGA is terrific and gets better each season . Think Clippers would like a redo on the Paul George trade ?
The Sixers are acting like this is a scheduled loss. For them.
Would love to see a good revenge game against the Sixers.
And… 30 wins before 20 losses. This team is eyeballing being .600… which I never would have dreamed of last summer.
The Herald brings talented poetry, talented writing and an emerging talented team .
Woohoo! Keep streaking!
Let’s get this shit done tonight!!!!
Harden also out. This one suddenly turns into a trap game for the best team in the West.
What in HELL! is Matt Barnes wearing on his sweatshirt!?!
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