Sacramento’s six-game winning streak came to a screeching halt in New Orleans on Monday, with the Kings falling behind by as many as 41 points. It was Sacramento’s worst loss of the season by far, but now they’ll get their chance for revenge as they’ll be playing that same Pelicans squad tonight.
Let’s talk Kings basketball!
When: Wednesday, November 22nd, 5:00 PM PT
Where: Smoothie King Center, New Orleans, LA
TV: NBC Sports California
Radio: Sactown Sports 1140
Three in the Key
A Tale of Two Paints
In Monday’s game, New Orleans won in part by absolutely dominating the paint. The Pelicans outscored the Kings 64 to 40 in the paint, but it was really worse than it appears. The first quarter actually saw the Kings win the paint battle 16 to 14 and it’s no coincidence that this was the only quarter that the Kings won. In the 2nd quarter, the paint might as well have been a wall. The Pelicans scored 24 paint points to just 2 for the Kings, with Zion Williamson going 8 for 10 for 18 points by himself, almost exclusively by attacking the paint for left hand layups. New Orleans only scored 8 paint points in the 3rd quarter, but the Kings didn’t do any better with just 6 themselves. Coupled with a Brandon Ingram shooting explosion (he went 4 for 4 from three in the 3rd and scored 18 points himself in the quarter), the game was pretty much done at that point. The Kings have to do better at getting looks in the paint and also preventing New Orleans from thriving there.
Trey-ning Day?
Trey Lyles is officially listed as questionable for tonight and could see his season debut tonight if his Instagram story is any indication. Lyles was an important bench piece for the Kings last season and allows the Kings to throw a few different looks that they haven’t been able to so far. There’s no great answer for Zion Williamson, but Lyles at least is another body to throw there. Plus, the Kings might be without Keegan Murray, who didn’t play in the second half of Monday’s game due to a lower back injury. He’s listed as questionable for tonight as well.
Stars need to step up
The Kings will only go as far as their stars take them and both Domantas Sabonis and De’Aaron Fox had perhaps their worst games of the season. Sabonis scored just 10 points and spent a lot of the game in foul trouble, whereas De’Aaron scored a season-low 14 points and settled for way too many three pointers, going just 2-12. There wasn’t a real sense of aggression from either of Sacramento’s stars which is unusual to see. Hopefully a day of rest and some film will snap them out of it and they can lead the Kings back to victory tonight.
Prediction
Trey Lyles returns and instantly proves to be a difference maker, tallying a double-double off the bench including a big 4th quarter 3 to give the Kings some separation.
Kings 119, Pelicans 111
On Monday our play was inept
With effort Coach Brown won’t accept.
In this Pelicans pair
At least show we care.
If we don’t, we’re bound to get swept!
+1. Put King Cake Baby to bed early!
I don’t think there’s a damned thing Sacramento can do about Zion, even though he’s only looking for one thing: Left-handed layups. Let him go right, and launch threes, and live with the results, but he can’t keep getting easy shots in the paint. Sabonis needs to knock him on his ass early in the game, and at least give Williamson something to think about if he wants to run another layup drill.
Ingram is a truly spectacular player, but statistically, he’s not likely to be so Lee Harvey Oswald-like from distance as he was on Monday. #JFK60 I do enjoy watching BI play, though, he’s pretty unique.
Ellis being out is going to be a problem, and if Keegs isn’t 100%, or doesn’t play, that’s a substantial loss at both ends. I’d rather Lyles didn’t play if he isn’t fully healed. Trey does do a nice job of defending, and is strong enough to slow Zion down a little, but it’s not easy for anyone. All anyone can do is make him work much harder to get buckets.
My guess is that Fox was a bit wiped from the previous game, which led him to drive less, and shoot more from distance. The Pels are a long, athletic bunch, but Fox finds a way. He’ll be better tonight, but will need a lot of help.
I want to see the Kings run on Zion’s makes. I notice Zion tends to jog back on defense after his makes. They gotta make them pay by coming right back at them. Hopefully negate some of Zion’s scoring by going basket for basket with them by punishing them for Zion not getting back. Kings are great at playing fast. Well, play fast then.
Hopefully the day off will lead to a higher pace
Trey has been cleared for full practice for a while, it’s conditioning he’s been working on. I trust the team won’t have him play unless they’re confident he’s ready
Zion would be a fascinating defensive assignment for Lyles. He won’t be able to stop him, but maybe he can have some effect — at least couldn’t do any worse than Barnes did. They’ve got basically equal foot speed and Lyles has more length/hustle.
If the game is falling out of reach by the second quarter like last game we’ll know that there’s something fundamentally wrong with the way we’re approaching this opponent. The Pels are a decent team but not spectacular. They’re only at 0.500 (below 0.500 before last game). They shouldn’t be blowing us out.
First time this season I didn’t pick the Kings to win :/ hope I’m wrong!
Boo this Ghost!
Please don’t boo.
It ain’t cool being a Cajun turkey so close to thanksgiving.
I don’t think the Kings take this one. With no Keegan I don’t see how the Kings slow down both Zion and Ingram. Matchups and length just aren’t in their favor.
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