Sacramento’s perfect road trip came to an end in Miami, but they have a chance to get back on the right track and also get some revenge against the Indiana Pacers tonight after Indiana beat them in Sacramento not long ago.
Let’s talk Kings basketball!
When: Friday, February 2nd, 4:30 PM PT
Where: Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN
TV: NBC Sports California
Radio: Sactown Sports 1140
Last Time
The Pacers came into Sacramento shortly after the Pascal Siakam trade shorthanded and without star Tyrese Haliburton, and still beat the Kings 126-121 to give the Kings a season-long four game losing streak. Six Pacers finished with double digits, led by 25 from Bennedict Mathurin and 20 points and 10 assists from T.J. McConnell. Kevin Huerter scored a career-high 31 for the Kings in the losing effort.
Three in the Key
Spicy P
Pascal Siakam has now played eight games for the Pacers during which they’ve gone 3-5. Indiana hasn’t been at full strength for most of that stretch though as Tyrese Haliburton has both missed time and been on a minutes restriction since coming back from his hamstring injury. Still, Siakam has been solid so far, averaging 21.1 points, 7.4 rebounds and 5.1 assists since joining the Pacers. Siakam gives the Pacers yet another versatile player who can score at three levels, while also adding some much needed length on the defensive side of the ball. It might not all come together this season but I think this was a very good addition for this Pacers squad which already had a bright future.
Close off the Paint
One of the biggest reasons the Kings lost to the Pacers in Sacramento was because they allowed the Pacers to get into the paint at will. T.J. McConnell in particular diced the Kings up by attacking the paint and then either scoring easy buckets or finding open guys after the Kings collapsed. Indiana outscored the Kings 62 to 54 in the paint, and that was all mostly in the halfcourt as their high powered offense only had seven fast break points.
Bench Help
Sacramento’s bench has been AWOL as of late. We spoke of Malik Monk’s struggles in the last game preview and those struggles continued once more against Miami. Monk is our best (and really our only) scorer off the bench, but he’s not the only guy coming in. Davion Mitchell has been getting more time but he has looked tentative and also slow to get the team into their offense. Trey Lyles and JaVale McGee don’t really come in for scoring. But the Kings need their bench to be more competitive, especially against a team with good depth like Indiana.
Prediction
Domantas Sabonis and De’Aaron Fox both show out in the only game they’ll be playing in Indianapolis this month, leading the Kings to a comfortable victory as revenge for the loss inflicted on their own homecourt just over a week ago.
Kings 132, Pacers 121
Hope the Kings rock and roll in Pacer town
If there were an opportunity to get your 4th win on this road trip, tonight’s the night. Pacers played last night in New York and it was a close game, so gotta take advantage of having an extra day’s rest.
Nesmith and Siakim were the only ones to play over 30 minutes last night; and Mathurin, who didn’t play at all, will a game-time decision tonight. I think they’ll still be ready to push the pace all game long.
With the way the team is playing lately, hard to see this being a win. Hoping for a surprise tonight.
There once was a player called Hali,
A draft steal we were able to tally.
He was traded away,
Causing Kings fans dismay,
But Domas allowed us to rally!
+1 Freeze McConnell!
I think the Kings best chance for victory is to have Monk break out of his funk, and go off on a big scoring spree tonight.
The Pacers aren’t shy about scoring and giving up buckets; and I think the usual suspects will show out tonight. Likely come down to whose bench can keep the scoring party going.
Snub revenge game boys. Let’s go!
This has to be Fox’s “get right” game.
LOL
Hoping the Monk funk was strictly a January thing. He’s been just terrible, both shooting and turnovers. He’s better than this, and he knows he’s better than this. It wouldn’t be the worst thing to let him go home for a week and get his bearings back.
Would like to see Keegan and Davion on Hali all game tonight.
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