Kings vs. Jazz Preview and Predictions: Utah brings their 9-16 record to the 916

The Kings and Jazz are facing off again for the first time since the season opener when Sacramento beat Utah 130-114 on their home floor.  Both teams could be a little bit different tonight as Utah is missing several key players and De’Aaron Fox is questionable for the Kings. Still, this is a matchup that the Kings should easily take care of at home, with or without their star guard.

Let’s talk Kings basketball!

When: Saturday, December 16th, 7:00 PM PT
Where: Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, CA
TV: NBC Sports California, NBA TV
Radio: Sactown Sports 1140

Last Time

The Kings started off the season in Utah and beat the Jazz 130-114. Harrison Barnes scored 33 points, 28 of which came in the first half alone.  Every Kings starter except Kevin Huerter finished in double digits.  Jordan Clarkson led the way for Utah with 24 points, followed by Lauri Markkanen with 19 points and 10 rebounds.

1. [Editor’s Note: Those 28 first half points represent 11% of the total points Harrison Barnes has scored this season.]

Three in the Key

It’s a Trap

The Jazz are going to be without Jordan Clarkson, John Collins and Keyonte George tonight, with Talen Horton-Tucker also questionable with an illness.  If THT ends up missing the game, that’s four out of Utah’s top six scorers missing for this matchup.  They still have All-Star Lauri Markkanen though, and we’ve seen guys like Ochai Agbaji and Kelly Olynyk, both of whom will get extra time tonight, hurt the Kings in the past. The Kings need to look past their opponent on the floor and treat it like any other game.  Getting out to a big early lead and maintaining it would be ideal.

Watch the Boards

The Jazz are the best offensive rebounding team in the league.  John Collins is a big part of that with 2.7 offensive rebounds a game, but even in his absence the Jazz still have some good size on that end. Lauri Markkanen is no slouch on that end, grabbing 2.3 a game, and Walker Kessler is all the way at 3.2.  The Jazz don’t do a ton well, but they do a good job of attacking the glass and getting second chances, where they lead the league in second chance points at 17.1 a game.  If the Kings can limit that damage and control the glass, they should easily win as this is one of Utah’s few strengths.

No Fox, No Problem

De’Aaron Fox is questionable tonight with a shoulder injury he suffered in a collision with Chet Holmgren late in Thursday’s game. It wouldn’t surprise me to see him tough it out, but if there was any night the Kings could afford to rest him it would be tonight against an even more hobbled Jazz team.  The Kings need to be able to win games even if their star isn’t available or at his best, and Keon Ellis has stepped up admirably before in his absence and is also coming off a career-best game.  The Kings will need someone to step up into the driver’s seat as a scorer though and it wouldn’t surprise me if that someone is Malik Monk, who is probably second only to Fox in his ability to create his own offense.

Prediction

De’Aaron Fox sits, but the Kings come out strong anyway. Keegan Murray, Kevin Huerter and Malik Monk all finish with 20+ points while Lauri Markkanen drops 30 and 10 but it isn’t enough to overcome all of Sacramento’s firepower.

Kings 119, Jazz 101

Fan Predictions

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