The Kings and Suns may both be out of the In-Season Tournament, but there’s still plenty to fight for with most of the regular season left. The Suns will be without several of their major stars, but they still have OG Beam Teamer Chimezie Metu who will be facing his old squad for the first time.
Let’s talk Kings basketball!
When: Friday December 8th, 6:00 PM PT
Where: Footprint Center, Phoenix, AZ
TV: NBC Sports California
Radio: Sactown Sports 1140
Three in the Key
Depleted Suns
The Suns will be without Kevin Durant, Bradley Beal, Grayson Allen and Damion Lee tonight but if we’ve learned anything from being Kings fans over the years it’s that teams without their major stars still tend to give the Kings problems, especially if Sacramento doesn’t take them seriously. Hopefully with this being a premiere Pacific Division matchup and after a tough loss at home on Monday the Kings will be primed and ready to go against this Suns squad that still features great players like Chimezie Metu and Devin Booker.
Pacific Division Battles
Thanks to the In-Season Tournament, one of the ramifications of the Kings playing the Suns tonight is that there will be five matchups between these two teams instead of the normal four. With how strong the West is, any time you have an extra opportunity to get a game on an opponent you’ll likely be battling for playoff positioning with, you have to take it.
Chimezie Metu
Remember when Chimezie Metu did this?
That was fun. All the best to Chimezie in Phoenix.
Prediction
Chimezie Metu scores a career-high 57 points but doesn’t get much help thanks to all of the Suns injuries as the Kings take care of business on the road.
Kings 116, Suns 57
Fan Predictions
Link to Leaderboard (Updated 12/3/23)
Random question…anyone know why PHX gets to host this game even though the Kings were the 2nd seed in the quarter finals? This means the Kings play 5 games against the Suns but 3 of them are in PHX. I’d definitely chalk that up as an advantage to division rival.
I think it’s because the Kings hosted the Pels as part of the in-season tourney, and this game squares up the 41 at home and 41 on the road.
I thought about that, but had the Kings won, who would have hosted between the Pels and Suns since they both played away in the semis? I only ask because I remember seeing posted during the semis that the loser of the Kings/Pels game would play at the loser of the Lakers/Suns game. So it must have been decided before the semis even began.
It’s probably just some scheduling glitch beyond my understanding but it does seem like there some potential for lopsided matchups.
This was something I was wondering too, but it looks like it worked out this year where NBA didn’t have to figure something out. I think one of the teams would have just been screwed out of a home game, but maybe they get compensated with the home team’s take for that game to even it out? I couldn’t find a real answer.
Thought I’d ask since this is related to scheduling: so we’ve played the Pellies three times, and we still have two more games against them scheduled for this season. Does this mean that we’re playing one or two extra games in this 82 game season, or are they removing one of those later games against the Pels for us?
I believe the Kings play them 5 times.
I want Mezie to have a good game, but not too good.
He seemed like a solid citizen and teammate, so I hope he finds a situation where he can shine.
I give him permission to posterize JaVale McGee once, and that’s it.
Knocked out of the In-Season Tourney;
To Phoenix, continue our journey.
No more rapt attention,
Nor even a mention
From Shaq, Chuck, Kenny and Ernie!
+1 See the Suns set down!
That prediction made me Lol. I’m totally down for that outcome.
#MetuMovement
Chim chiminey chim chiminey chim chim Chimezie!
Yeah, it’d be nice to be on the other end of a blowout every once in a while. The woes of a team with a winning record but a negative point difference.
While I root for Mezi and I too hope he has a good showing, the Kings need to walk away with a win tonight.
I’m happy Metu is still finding a way to keep playing in the NBA, seems like a good guy/teammate. Hopefully he sticks around for a few more years.
Badge Legend