The Sacramento Kings sit 3.5 games back of the 8 seed, in a three-way tie record-wise but officially in 11th place in the West. One of those teams the Kings are tied with will visit Sacramento for a nationally-televised game which will determine the fates of the two teams involved. Neither the Kings nor the New Orleans Pelicans can afford to lose this game. Both teams are trying to overcome slow starts. If the Grizzlies keep winning none of this may matter, but that won’t stop us from enjoying a high-stakes game under the national spotlight.

Let’s talk Kings basketball.

When: Wednesday, March 11, 7:30 PM PT

Where: Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, CA

TV: ESPN, NBCSCA

Radio: KHTK Sports 1140 AM

For Your Consideration

Thanos is coming: If you haven’t had a chance to watch Zion Williamson much this season, you’re in for a treat. He’s a magnificent player who dominates the court in a way few do. But he’s still very much a rookie. There’s some hand-wringing among Pelicans fans over whether the team should be running so much of their offense through Zion. He’s clearly the future of the franchise, but the team has been at its best when the team has a more diverse distribution of possessions. Lonzo Ball has been really, really good this season. Brandon Ingram was an All-Star and it was very much deserved. Jrue Holiday is still one of the league’s best two-way guards. Will the Pelicans feed the beast or spread it around?

The Kings have no such concerns. Marvin Bagley isn’t seeing the floor anytime soon, and the other young cornerstone for the Kings is already the team’s best player. De’Aaron Fox is the engine that drives the Kings. If some others can hit their threes and play some defense, Fox can do the rest.

Prediction: Fox puts Jrue in the spin cycle again, Lonzo fakes a sore ankle, and the Kings snap the Pelicans’ playoff hopes.

Kings 108, Pelicans 101