The Sacramento Kings are back in action for the first time since the All-Star break. The Kings should be back at full strength, with Malik Monk expected to be back from an ankle injury. The Trail Blazers will be without Jusuf Nurkic, Anfernee Simons, and Justise Winslow. That is, if the Blazers make it to Sacramento at all. Their flight out of Portland was cancelled last night due to weather, and as I type this we’re still waiting for confirmation that the team will be able to make it to the game.
The Kings Herald is also suffering on the injury front. Before the break, Will badly cut his finger and is still on the IR, so you’re stuck with me writing the preview. I promise to keep the jokes about Will’s finger in the single digits.
Get it? Digits?
Let’s talk Kings basketball!
When: 7:00 PM PT
Where: Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, CA
TV: NBC Sports California
Radio: Sactown Sports 1140
For Your Consideration
Go Out And Give A Dame: As Akis so deftly articulated, we are now in the thick of it. This is the first game of the final stretch, 25 games for the Kings to secure their own destiny and finally end this miserable drought. But as we stare at the horizon, the Kings need to focus on the here and now.
The Kings are the 3 seed in the West, and the Blazers are currently the 12th seed, and yet they’re separated by just 4.5 games. We know from years of experience that Damian Lillard can single-handedly carry the Blazers to a victory on any given night, and despite missing a few teammates due to injuries, Dame still has plenty of help on this roster. Jerami Grant, Nassir Little, and new Blazers Cam Reddish and Matisse Thybulle will all be there to support Lillard.
The Kings can still run away with this, but it will require Domantas Sabonis to take advantage inside with Nurkic out, and it will require the Kings as a whole to actually play some defense.
I know, kids, I’m scared too.
Prediction
Sabonis goes off, Monk drops 25, and the Kings begin blazing their own trail to the playoffs.
Kings 122, Blazers 108, Will 9 (fingers)
Let’s go Kings!
Also, I read that Portland was supposed to fly out this morning but their flight got delayed because of the winter storms. I wonder how late that’ll go until.
There’s snow on the hills/mountains out here in the Bay Area, and even gonna be some in the Los Angeles county mountains!
It’s happening! Hell freezes over. Sacramento will finally make the play-offs!
Sacramento: Where you can play basketball in the winter!
My wife’s mom texted us images from Portland. It’s full-on snowing there!
Do they forfeit if they don’t show up?
What should your in-laws forfeit?
The game. They should forfeit the game because they are residents of Portland. It’s only fair, NBA. Do the right thing.
We got almost 15 inches of snow overnight in NE Portland. It’s just plain nuts.
Must win game.
Can’t come out of the AS Break stumbling against a sub .500 team.
It’s been snowing for two days now on the north coast. It snows regularly inland but we haven’t seen snow on the coast in like 5 years and never for multiple days (In my 24 years up here). It’s been a lot of fun. Crazy seeing pictures of snow on the beach! Hopefully they make the flight, was looking forward to a nice fire watching the game tonight.
Now that everyone’s gotten some rest
The Blazers will be our first test.
To maintain our standing
The schedule’s demanding.
Let’s continue the “Light the Beam” fest!
https://twitter.com/MarkJonesESPN/status/1628850531820261376?t=dI7tCpj_-8GuiAKE4i1rcA&s=19
https://twitter.com/JandersonSacBee/status/1628849626844663808?t=rq3VLM2Et9ro60qLtRbLGw&s=19
https://twitter.com/protoplutonian/status/1628855148700389376?t=5t201fcvgzU9_oaAB4QcaQ&s=19
https://twitter.com/MattGeorgeSAC/status/1628871002250940417?t=UnccFFN9eTAU4qLfcyOCoA&s=19
I wonder whether the Kings will have any trouble flying into LA for tomorrow’s game, given the blizzard warnings in effect for LA mountain areas from Thursday through Saturday.
the blizzard around LA is Westbrick warming up.
SMF and LAX will be fine. Unless it is absolutely bonkers weather (like tornado or hurricane), the weather in between is pretty irrelevant to a flight – it’s the weather at either runway that causes delays and cancellations.
Grant now listed as out, too – at least on ESPN.
Lillard, Simons, Grant, Nurkic all out for the Blazers. Trap game for the Kings!
Hasn’t Grant been out for a long time now?
Oh boy!
AMF
Gotta win this one. The Kangz would lose by 20. Let’s play like Kings today.
https://twitter.com/James_HamNBA/status/1628877415589249025
Kings are going to get a heavy dose of Shaedon Sharpe, Cam Reddish, and Matisse Thybulle tonight. PDX is rolling with a bunch of wings and Drew Eubanks at center. Sabonis should feast.
Win big, take care of business, be thankful for your good dose of luck and get after the Clipps tomorrow. It’s not like any of these games are ever easy.
kings have 12 home + 13 road games.
I want 15-10. But I wanted a pony for Christmas.
According to CBS NBA injury report, multiple Blazers out till 2-26 which, according to my calander is past tonight. The plane had better be in the air. and the “something in the air tonight” better be a beam.
NBA has rules about flying on game day. I hope they play.
I want Brown to motivate them about disrespect at ASG.
One at a time.
Kangz would lose this trap game.
I really thought that the Kings were playing the Clippers tonight, so I found this preview unusually informative.
In a perfect world, the Kings will lead by 40 at the end of the 1st, Starters get good rest for the B2B tom. Easy win.
But of course, they let this undermanned Blazers hang, Fox scores 40 in the 4th and 3OTs. Lots of guys played 50+ minutes and grinded a win.
Or worse, see that Pelicans game.
C’mon Kings. Just f*cking win this one easily! #LightTheBeam
This is a game that I’d like to see Queta play a lot of minutes, if he’s not in Stockton.
I think the Kings come out focused and rested, ready to make that final push. Huerter and Keegan got a rest and they are ready to duel for the lead in 3 point shots made for the team. Finish these 25 games going 16-9.
It’s only just occurred to me that Portland has a bunch of guys out, listed reason being rest.
After a week and a half playing no games?
Just Lillard and Grant. Everybody else already had injuries. Simons, Winslow and Nurkic were out either way.
It sucks for Blazers fans, but the league almost has no choice but to make this game go on as scheduled under the circumstances.
Lillard goes for 70. Sheadon Sharpe dunks one with his feet. Billups suits up. And that goes for a Blazers team than has had it’s hart removed – as Kangz fan decry – there is no justise!
Or Sac wins by 12.
Could go either way.
I didn’t realize how into this season I was until we had the all-star break. I’m glad real basketball is back. Stopped tuning into any all-star stuff years ago. That was the longest(in my mind) all-star break I’ve experienced. Let’s go Kings.
Lol I’m not watching this game
Badge Legend