The Kings are in Philadelphia to take on the 76ers and try to keep their undefeated road trip going. The 76ers will be without Joel Embiid but this is still a tough place to play and an arena where the Kings haven’t won in since 2017.
Let’s talk Kings basketball!
When: Friday, January 12th, 4:30 PM PT
Where: Wells Fargo Center, Phildaelphia, PA
TV: ESPN, NBC Sports California
Radio: Sactown Sports 1140
Last Time
The Kings and 76ers are facing off for the first time this season. Last year, the 76ers swept the season series, including a game in which the Joel Embiid-less 76ers came back from 21 points to beat the Kings. In fact, the 76ers have won the last eight matchups with Sacramento, with the Kings last win coming in February of 2019 when Buddy Hield scored a game-high 34 points.
Three in the Key
Opportunities
The 76ers are a very good team, but they are going to be without the services of the reigning MVP, Joel Embiid, which makes them a very different team. While they still have quality players like Tyrese Maxey and Tobias Harris among others, it is Embiid who drives this train forward and without him the 76ers are without their leading scorer, their leading rebounder, their second leading passer, and their best interior defender. Philadelphia is just 2-7 without Embiid this season. This is an opportunity the Kings need to take advantage of, especially given the strength of the remaining opponents on this road trip. Without Sabonis, the 76ers should be hard pressed to stop Domantas Sabonis inside or drives by any other Kings player.
Battle of Kentucky
Coach Cal sure knows how to recruit guards, and we’ll be seeing some prime examples of that tonight as both teams feature excellent Kentucky products.
Tyrese Maxey has ascended to stardom this season after finally being given the reins in the wake of the James Harden trade. Maxey is averaging a career-high 26.2 points, 6.7 assists and is playing a league leading 37.4 minutes a game. Without Embiid, he will be the 76ers primary offensive option and he’s shown this season that he can put up big time points, including a 50 point performance earlier this year against the Pacers.
The Kings have their own Kentucky guards though in De’Aaron Fox and Malik Monk, both of whom are also having career years. This should be a fun matchup.
Protect the Ball
The Sixers lead the league in Steals, led by shooting guard De’Anthony Melton who averages 1.7 a game. As a result, the 76ers are among the league leaders in fastbreak points at 17.2 a game. The Kings have had some bad losses of late thanks to an excess of turnovers, particularly unforced ones, so they’ll need to do an extra careful job of making sure not to give the Sixers too many extra chances by handing them the ball.
Prediction
The Kentucky showcase is just as exciting as could be expected for a national audience with both Fox and Maxey scoring over 30 points and Malik Monk dropping in 20 himself. However without Embiid the 76ers have no answer for Domantas Sabonis and he leads the way with another triple-double to keep the Kings undefeated road trip alive.
Kings 127, 76ers 121
AKA the conflicted Marty game.
Today’s the day we finally get over the hump and win in Philadelphia for the first time in eight years!
Fun fact: Kenny Thomas played for each of these organizations.
We have tickets to see Anthony Jeselnick at Hard Rock tonight so I’m missing the game.
Feeling like the Kings end the losing streak tonight.
Well, at least this way you’re guaranteed laughs. Have fun!
National TV? LFG!
Any chance there is an update of the standings coming soon?
Thanks, Akis!
The Sixers were once riding high
With Embiid as their MVP guy.
But of late he’s been lame
And missing some games.
Since he’s out, better odds will apply!
+1 Melt Philly!
Huerter is out, so it will be interesting to see what Brown does at SG. One of these dudes (Duarte, Jones, Ellis) needs to step up and seize the moment. One of them needs to “Wally Pip” Huerter and never look back.
I really hope that Colby gets a lot of burn.
My guess is that JTA will get time, and my eyes burn watching him play. Maybe they go big and insert Lyles at PF and Keegan play SG. One can hope.
All I know is that I’ve seen enough of Duarte. His -18 NRTG is a real stinker. FWIW, Keon has a very respectable +6 NRTG. I just don’t understand why he doesn’t play more.
I don’t get Keon not playing either. Thought he was starting to hit his stride too. I remember that game he got ejected after 2 techs, hasn’t played much since then.
The only thing I can think of has to do with his 55 game limit. Maybe they want him available to play after the deadline? Even then, he can’t play in the playoffs unless he’s converted to a regular deal.
How does the two-way contract and game limit affect him as a trade candidate?
I don’t know how 2-way trades work. Has there ever been one? I’d assume you can only trade 2-ways for 2-ways.
Then convert him. Maybe wating after the trade deadline. Makes no difference right now. Play him.
Maybe a team that would trade for him wants him on a 2 way contract? Just never know what the reasoning is, although he us much more effective than Davion. So if he is in the team, he should be playing.
Converting him takes up a roster spot. That’s why I figure they’d wait until after the deadline if they want to take him into the playoffs.
He’s already at 34 games active though. Which, if I’m not mistake is where the countdown comes from. His only 3 inactive games came at the beginning of the season.
Do active games count or games played?
I think it’s games played. And the limit is 50 this season.
“Two-Way Players will not accrue “Days of Service” for either the NBA or the G League team in respect of the 2022-23 Season (and, thus, there is no 45-Day Two-Way Service Limit). Instead, the following rules will apply:
No player under a Two-Way Contract is permitted to be on his NBA team’s Active List for more than 50 games during the 2023-24 Regular Season. The 50-game limit is prorated based on the number of days remaining in the NBA Regular Season for any Two-Way Contract signed during the NBA Regular Season.
Ah, active list. Well that might change some things in terms of trades and when/if Ellis is converted.
We played Philly at home last year and Embiid did not play. Maxey absolutely torched us. Tonight is not an easy game on the road. Hopefully they show up tonight.
Can Sabonis be even better when not battling against Sabonis? I like those odds.
Just a typo.
Oh?
Some interesting matchups:
Tobias Harris v. Harrison Barnes
Tyrese Maxey v. De’Aaron Fox
I continue to wonder how this Philly team performs so well. Credit to Nick Nurse.
Last season, I recall hot hands from Nic Batum and Shake Milton (as well as Maxey).
Let’s see which Kings team shows up.
While credit is certainly due Nurse, Embiid / Maxey are an elite pair, a clear slice above Sabonis / Fox (thanks primarily to Embiid). The pair of them are averaging (rounding up) 61 pts., 15 rebs., 13 asts., 3 blks. and 2 stls. Harris and Melton are fine complementary players (and credit to Harris for not having the ego to match his contract).
The betting is almost 2 to 1 in favor of the Kings tonight +1.5 points. Huh.
So bettors think the Kings will win by more than 1.5?
The majority is betting that the Kings either win or lose by one point.
Kelly Oubre is OUT tonight.
Nice short Fox interview on NBA.com
Badge Legend