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Kings vs. Pelicans Preview: A chance to bounce back

The Kings will look to get back on track as the hobbled Pelicans come into town.
By | 21 Comments | Mar 6, 2023

Sacramento’s five game winning streak came to an end on Saturday but they’ll look to bounce back tonight as the hobbled Pelicans come into town.  The Kings might have their own injury issues however as De’Aaron Fox is questionable with a hamstring injury.

Let’s talk Kings basketball!

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

For Your Consideration

The Kings have been on an offensive tear since the All-Star break, averaging 136.3 points and going 5-1 in that time frame. Even in their lone loss which came Saturday against the Timberwolves, the Kings still put up 134 points.  Defensively though, the Kings could afford to tighten up quite a bit as they’re also allowing 131.3 points a game since the break.  Granted, some of these numbers are inflated from that historic 176-175 game against the Clippers, but defense has remained a constant thorn in this team’s side all year.

The Pelicans are one of the league’s better defenses, rating 9th in the NBA, but they’ve also had probably the worst injury luck of any team in the entire NBA this season.  Tonight they will once again be without Zion Williamson, who has only played 29 games this season. Their other star, Brandon Ingram, is now healthy, but he has also missed significant time this season and has also only played 29 games.  New Orleans will also be without the services of Jose Alvarado and Larry Nance Jr. tonight, with Jonas Valanciunas and newcomer Josh Richardson both being questionable.  It’s a testament to Willie Green and the rest of the Pelicans that they’ve still managed to stay in the playoff hunt even with how many injuries they’ve been forced to deal with.

The Kings have only played the Pelicans once this season and it was a rather embarrassing effort for the Kings, losing 136-104 in New Orleans.  The Kings were without De’Aaron Fox, but the Pelicans were missing Zion, Ingram and Valanciunas and were on a second night of a back to back.  The Kings didn’t win a single quarter of basketball and Domantas Sabonis was the highest scoring starter with just 12 points.  The few times the Kings have struggled offensively this season have usually come in games where De’Aaron Fox hasn’t been able to play, and tonight could be another one of those nights as he’s still dealing with a nagging hamstring injury and is currently listed as questionable.  Should he not be able to go, the Kings will need guys like Davion Mitchell and Malik Monk to step up as playmakers and fill the void.

The Kings still have a nice cushion right now, but with only 19 games left, Sacramento needs to be greedy and try to win as many games as possible and especially defend the home floor whenever they have the opportunity.

Prediction

Domantas Sabonis takes advantage of the Pelicans lack of size and drops a 30 point triple double as the Kings take care of business on the home floor.

Kings 123, Pelicans 115

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RobHessing
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March 6, 2023 12:38 pm

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Jman1949
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March 6, 2023 12:39 pm

In New Orleans, so hard to explain,
Our effort sucked us down the drain.
With Zion still out,
What this one’s about—
Winning here to wipe off that stain!

murraytant
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March 6, 2023 1:23 pm

last time the reserves got us.

Hold CJ and “BI” in check and don’t let them extraneous guys hurt us- like Marshall and Murphey

RPO
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RPO
March 6, 2023 1:37 pm

The Kings still have a nice cushion right now

Not sure what qualifies as”nice”. I for one won’t feel comfortable until we clinch a playoff spot.

Klam
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March 6, 2023 2:02 pm
Reply to  RPO

And given how tight the spots are for the West, it will be quite a while before even that happens. 🙁

RPO
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March 6, 2023 2:52 pm
Reply to  Klam

I’m hoping they’ll be able to maintain a top-4 spot in the West. I think PHX easily claims the 3 spot eventually but hopefully we don’t fall any further. “Defensive efforts” like the last game aren’t going to help the cause.

BeTheBall
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March 6, 2023 3:00 pm
Reply to  RPO

We could very well be in the 2nd spot by the end of the week, though.

Kingsguru21
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March 6, 2023 4:41 pm
Reply to  RPO

Phoenix could easily claim the 2 spot if the Kings sink. They’re only 4 games behind Memphis in the loss column and Memphis is free-falling down the standings. Especially since Steven Adams has been out, and who knows how they’ll fare now that Ja Morant isn’t there either.

I can easily see the Kings staying in the 3 spot and Phoenix moving up to the 2 spot.

RPO
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March 6, 2023 4:45 pm
Reply to  Kingsguru21

If Memphis implodes I can see us staying at #3. I think PHX ends up above us in the end, perhaps at #2.

Last edited 1 year ago by RPO
Adamsite
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March 6, 2023 5:01 pm
Reply to  RPO

I found something interesting that I saw the other day…no team has won an NBA title with a losing record on the road in the regular season. Currently there are just 2 teams in the west that fit the bill, the Nuggets and Kings. Clips are currently .500 on the road. PHX is 15-19

The East, on the other hand, have 5 teams with an above.500 record.

Kingsguru21
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March 6, 2023 5:19 pm
Reply to  Adamsite

I’ll bet Phx has a fighting chance of winning 6 of their next 8 on the road. But that’s just me.

Kosta
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March 6, 2023 2:03 pm

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GhostMalone
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March 6, 2023 2:46 pm

GhostMalone will be in attendance. I’ve seen many Kangz games- first time for the beam team. Would love to see the beam tonight. Go Kings!

andy_sims
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March 6, 2023 3:48 pm
Reply to  GhostMalone

George likes spicy chicken.

Sacto_J
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March 6, 2023 2:57 pm

Brandon Ingram is always a concern for the Kings, even when we’re good. Keeping him to respectable numbers will be a big key to getting the W. Hope to see a little more defense out of our guys tonight, for sure.

Adamsite
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Nostradumbass 14
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March 6, 2023 4:13 pm

I really don’t like the matchups the Pels bring with them. Reminds me of Toronto and Minny. Lengthy wings have been a problem for the Kings.

Mike120
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March 6, 2023 4:26 pm

This is one of those “really gotta win it” games. NY, Boston, Milwaukee, and Phoenix are the next 4 home games. We’d be lucky to go 2-2 in those.

Adamsite
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Nostradumbass 14
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March 6, 2023 5:08 pm
Reply to  Adamsite

Kings lost by over 30 points when they played the Pels last month without Fox.

BuffaloDiaspora
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March 6, 2023 6:20 pm
Reply to  Adamsite

Being in New Orleans for Malik’s 25th birthday may have had a wee bit to do with that performance

Klam
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March 6, 2023 5:09 pm
Reply to  Adamsite

Oof. This might be rough if some players don’t step up in his absence.

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