The Sacramento Kings are in the midst of their first real playoff run in over a decade, and with the Western Conference being so tough and the race being so close, every game matters. The Kings wish they could have some of their earlier season losses back right now, perhaps none more than their loss to Phoenix on Jan. 8th in which they gave up a 21 point lead to a Devin Booker-less Suns team.

For most of the season, the Kings have done a fantastic job at beating the teams they’re supposed to, sporting a 20-5 record against teams below .500. But the Kings can’t take any game for granted, and must continue to be focused no matter the opponent. A win tonight, gives the Kings a very successful 5-1 homestand, while a loss would be monumentally disappointing and potentially devastating to the playoff race.

When: Sunday, February 10th, 3 PM PST

Where: Golden 1 Center, Sacramento CA

TV: NBCSCA

Radio: KHTK Sports 1140 AM

For Your Consideration

The Suns made a small change themselves at the trade deadline, swapping NorCal natives Ryan Anderson and Tyler Johnson. Johnson has definitely not lived up to the contract he was given by the Heat, but gives the Suns another guard who can hopefully take some of the ballhandling duties while they wait to pair star Devin Booker with a real Point Guard. Johnson struggled in his first game with the Suns, but he’s had some big games against the Kings in the past.

The Suns will also have Devin Booker this time, which has not been the case the first two times the Kings have played Phoenix. Booker is by far the Suns’ most talented player, averaging 24.9 points and 6.7 assists in his 4th year. Booker is a player that can get hot at a moment’s notice, and it will be fun to see the matchup between him and fellow flamethrower-human hybrid Buddy Hield.

The Suns sport the third-worst record in the league and by far the worst record in the Western Conference. They don’t do anything particularly well. They’re near the last in terms offense and defense, they’re dead last in three point percentage, they’re a poor rebounding team on both ends of the floor and they turn the ball over at the second highest rate in the league. This is a team that the Kings should hopefully beat handily. Hopefully the sting of that loss last month is still fresh in their minds and they come out with an aggressive mentality.

It will be interesting to see how much more comfortable the Kings are in incorporating their newest additions, Harrison Barnes and Alec Burks, after finally going through a game together. It felt that the Kings were trying to force things for Barnes early in the Miami game but settled down as the game went on. Burks seemed fairly comfortable right from the get-go, and both Barnes and Burks played some excellent defense down the stretch as the Kings were able to complete the comeback.

Prediction

The Sacramento Kings realize what’s at stake and get out to a great start and never let up, handily taking care of an inferior team on their home floor to go to four games above .500 for the first time this season.

Kings 129, Suns 101