Kings vs. Lakers Preview and Predictions: Beat LA

The Kings are still looking to secure their first home victory of the season after a disappointing loss on Friday night against the Warriors.  Despite strong performances by De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis, the Kings will need their supporting cast to step up if they hope to beat LeBron James, Anthony Davis and the new and improved Lakers.

Let’s talk Kings basketball!

When: Sunday, October 29th, 6:00 PM PT
Where: Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, CA
TV: NBC Sports California
Radio: Sactown Sports 1140

Three in the Key

New Look Lakers

The Kings won the season matchup against the Lakers 3-1 last season, but this is a much different Lakers team than the one they faced. All of Sacramento’s matchups with the Lakers last year came before the trade deadline, at which the Lakers made several moves that improved their depth and roster balance.  After that All-Star break, the Lakers went 16-7, won the Play-In game against the Timberwolves and got all the way to the Western Conference Finals, beating the Memphis Grizzlies and Golden State Warriors before falling to the eventual champion Denver Nuggets.  The Lakers added even more depth in the offseason, acquiring Taurean Prince, Christian Wood, Jaxson Hayes and Gabe Vincent.  This is a very solid supporting cast surrounding two Hall of Famers in LeBron James and Anthony Davis.

Size Advantage

This Lakers team is pretty tall and the Kings will need to try extra hard to keep them out of the paint.  LeBron is always a threat to drive to the basket and overpower whoever is guarding him, still going strong 21 seasons in.  Anthony Davis probably should spend more time in the paint than he actually does, but he’s dangerous no matter where he is on the floor (although you’d prefer him to be shooting jumpers).  Christian Wood, Jarred Vanderbilt and Rui Hachimura also provide some decent size but Vanderbilt will be out as he’s dealing with a heel injury.  The only real rim protector the Kings have is JaVale McGee, so it will require a team effort to prevent the Lakers from feasting on the rim, and on the other end, Sacramento’s shooters will have to be on point and spread the floor to prevent the Lakers from packing the paint and stopping Sacramento’s own interior attack.  If the Lakers themselves have one major weakness as well, it might be outside shooting, as so far through two games they are last in the league in three point attempts and percentage.  Keep them on the perimeter and out of the paint and the Kings have a good chance at winning this game.

Oh Guards, Where art thou?

Aside from De’Aaron Fox, Sacramento’s guards had a miserable game in the home opener.  Kevin Huerter and Davion Mitchell both failed to score a single point, Chris Duarte went just 1-7 from the field, and Malik Monk only shot the ball four times.  Most of Sacramento’s depth supposedly comes at that position, but they’ll need at least one of those guys to step up and have a good game in order for the Kings to win.

Prediction

Kevin Huerter gets on a heater from outside and the Kings bounce back to claim their first home win of the season.

Kings 123, Lakers 113

Fan Predictions