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Preview: Kings aim for third-straight win vs. NBA-worst Wizards

Game RecapBy No Comments6 Mins Read
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The NBA Playoff campaign continues as the Sacramento Kings complete a back-to-back Thursday night in the nation’s capital.

On the heels of a dominant win over the Toronto Raptors on WednesdayThe Kings will look for a third straight victory against a Washington Wizards team that enters the game with the worst record in the NBA (11-58).

Sacramento (40-28) is in the midst of its final “favorable” stretch of the season, with Thursday’s game against the Wizards being its third straight game against a team with a sub-500 record. After facing Washington, only three of the The Kings’ final 13 games will be against teams with losing records.

As the Western Conference playoff race tightens with each passing day, Sacramento continues to keep pace in the race for sixth place in the standings. Wins over struggling teams are a necessity this time of year, and a victory over a Wizards team that is on pace to finish the season with fewer than 15 wins will only add to the Kings’ playoff chances. playoffs.

Can Sacramento sweep its three-game set against opponents under 500 before entering a tougher part of its schedule?

Sacramento Kings vs. Washington Wizards Match Info

When: 4:00 p.m. PST

Or: Capital One Arena – Washington DC

TV: NBC Sports California

Radio: Sactown Sports 11:40 a.m. – Coverage begins at 2:30 p.m. Game night

Double: Kings -11.5, O/U 236.5

Be sure to tune in here on Sactown Sports 1140 for all your Kings vs. Kings coverage. Wizards, starting at 2:30 p.m. PST on Game night ahead of an alert at 4:00 p.m. PST from the nation’s capital.

“Don’t be that team”

On December 28, the Detroit Pistons stood on the brink of NBA history as they closed in on their record 28th straight loss.

Before Detroit took a 19-point lead over the Boston Celtics, Washington Wizards forward Kyle Kuzma took to Twitter/X with a tongue-in-cheek message: “At this point, it’s like ‘don’t be that team.’ »

Since then, the tables have turned for Kuzma and the Wizards, as Washington has gone 5-32 in the 2024 calendar year while trailing the Pistons in the Eastern Conference standings.

The Wizards have only beaten one winning team since December 15: the Miami Heat on March 10. Aside from their triumph over Miami, all six of Washington’s wins during that span came against teams with sub-500 records.

For Sacramento, it’s simple: don’t be that team that falls victim to one of the worst Wizards teams in the NBA that will find itself without several pieces of its rotation, including old friend Marvin Bagley III and guard Tyus Jones .

The Kings have handled their business against teams with fewer than 500 players this season (18-7, .720). Thursday is a new opportunity for Sacramento to improve its record before setting its sights on the home stretch.

Keep soaring, Black Hawk

When Harrison Barnes plays well, the Sacramento Kings play well.

Barnes has been locked in on offense over the last five games, scoring in double figures in each game while holding averages of 16.4 points and 4.2 rebounds on 50/50/83 shooting.

In games in which Barnes has scored at least 15 points this season, Sacramento holds a record of 17-4 (.809), meaning the veteran’s involvement in the offense usually impacts the outcome of games .

The Kings have a different look when Barnes is called upon, with players like De’Aaron Fox, Domantas Sabonis and Malik Monk able to take their foot off the gas while “The Black Falcon” takes the lead on the offensive end.

Barnes’ scoring and rebounding have made progress over the past two weeks, which could be a good sign for Sacramento as they inch closer to the playoffs. With Kevin Huerter (dislocated shoulder) set to miss time, the Kings will need more offense from Barnes and Keegan Murray down the stretch, especially from beyond the arc to help table setters like Fox and Sabonis.

Defense

Sacramento has been searching for a defensive identity the past two seasons, and they may have just tapped into that part of their game that they’ve been lacking.

Toronto’s 89-point outing Wednesday was the fewest points Sacramento has allowed in a game this season. This isn’t a one-game situation either. The Kings have held opponents to 112 points or fewer in six straight games (longest streak since 2017-18, 13 games).

Sacramento has been one of the two best defenses in the NBA over the past two weeks, and a matchup against a Washington team that enters the game ranked 26th in offensive rating and 29th in three-point field goal percentage could add to their impressive sequence.

Remarks

With a double-double on Thursday, Domantas Sabonis would pass Moses Malone for the second most consecutive double-doubles since the NBA-ABA merger (1976-77). Sabonis has a double-double in 51 consecutive games.

Kings vs. Wizards Injury Report

Sacramento

  • Sasha Vezenkov – QUESTIONABLE (sprained right ankle)
  • Kevin Huerter – OUT (left shoulder dislocation)
  • Trey Lyles – OUT (left knee MCL sprain)
  • Jordan Ford – OUT (G-League)
  • Mason Jones – OUT (G-League)

Washington

  • Deni Advija – QUESTIONABLE (right knee contusion)
  • Richaun Holmes – QUESTIONABLE (non-COVID illness)
  • Tyus Jones – OUT (back sprain)
  • Marvin Bagley III – OUT (back sprain)
  • Bilal Coulibaly – OUT (fracture of the right wrist)
  • Isaiah Livers – OUT (inflammation of the right hip joint)
  • Eugene Omoruyi – OUT (sprained right ankle)
  • Landry Shamet – OUT (left calf strain)

Upcoming calendar

  • Thursday March 21th – Sacramento Kings @ Washington Wizards – 4:00 p.m. PST
  • Saturday March 23 – Sacramento Kings @ Orlando Magic – 4:00 p.m. PST
  • Monday March 25 – Sacramento Kings vs. Philadelphia 76ers – 7:00 p.m. PST
  • Tuesday March 26 – Sacramento Kings vs. Dallas Mavericks – 7:00 p.m. PST
  • Friday March 29 – Sacramento Kings vs. Dallas Mavericks – 7:00 p.m. PST

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