Kings vs Pacers Preview: The Return of Hali & Hield

Nov 30, 2022, 9:26 AM

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - MARCH 30: Tyrese Haliburton #0 and Buddy Hield #24 of the Indiana Pacers ce...

(Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)

Editor & Kings Beat Writer

We all knew that this day would come.

After nine months of waiting, Tyrese Haliburton and Buddy Hield will get their opportunity to suit up at Golden 1 Center as their Indiana Pacers (12-8) will face the Sacramento Kings (10-9) on Wednesday night.

Haliburton and Hield will look to extend Sacramento’s losing streak to four games in front of what is expected to be a sellout crown.

Here’s everything you need to know for tonight’s Kings vs Pacers matchup.

Domantas Sabonis is the only player in the NBA this season that is averaging 15+ points, 10+ rebounds & 6+ assists per game.

Sabonis also leads the NBA in games with 10+ points, 10+ rebounds & 5+ assists.

𝗦𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗻𝗶𝘀 – 10 games
Jokic – 9 games
Luka & Giannis – 6 games

🐂⭐️ pic.twitter.com/EIPfSxXi62

— Frankie Cartoscelli (@FCartoscelli3) November 29, 2022

Sacramento Kings vs Indiana Pacers Game Info

When: 7:00 PM PST

Where: Golden 1 Center – Sacramento, CA

TV: NBC Sports California

Radio: Sactown Sports 1140 AM – Pregame coverage starts at 5:30 PM PST on Game Night

Tickets: Click here

Line: Kings -4.5, O/U: 242.5

What To Watch For

Emotions

With tonight’s game expected to be at or near a sellout, the emotions will be high as Tyrese Haliburton and Buddy Hield return as visitors.

February’s blockbuster trade that sent the prized guard in Haliburton to the Pacers in return for two-time All-Star center Domantas Sabonis is still one of the more hotly debated topics around the NBA, and it’s a trade that still irks Haliburton to this day.

“I think for the rest of my career, that [trade] is in my head, right?,” Haliburton said back in August during a sit-down interview with BasketballNews.com.

“I think the great ones take little things, negative things and run with them. It’s funny — when I do things well, people are always like, ‘Look at what the Kings did!’ I love that stuff. That’s what I love. My whole life, I just love proving people wrong… Everything I do, I just want it to be like, ‘[Look at what the Kings did]!’”

(Getty)

Haliburton is a player that displays a lot of emotion on the floor, and there is no doubt that the feelings will be kicked into high gear as the guard will take the floor against old teammate De’Aaron Fox on Wednesday night, with Kings owner Vivek Ranadive sitting courtside.

Is De’Aaron Fox playing through an injury?

Although the Kings didn’t list De’Aaron Fox on their injury report for tonight’s game against the Pacers, the 24-year-old was limited during Tuesday’s practice due to the management of “general soreness”.

Fox struggled during Monday’s loss to the Phoenix Suns, only scoring 11 points over 28 minutes in what was the guard’s most disappointing showing of the season thus far.

Sacramento wouldn’t have a record above the .500 mark if it weren’t for Fox’s incredible start to the season, and if the Kings’ medical staff is letting him suit up and take the court, it means that he’s feeling well enough to be playing. Bumps and bruises happen over the course of an NBA season, and although Fox has looked a step or two slower, he intends on playing at the highest level when he’s on the floor.

“Just little minor things here and there, but we play a lot of games every year. You play through those,” Fox said of his health status following Monday’s game.

With Tyrese Haliburton lining up across from Fox tonight for the first time as opponents, expect both of these All-Star-caliber guards to put on a show at Golden 1 Center.

Sabonis vs Turner

A storyline that has taken a backseat to the Fox vs Haliburton storyline is the matchup in the post between former teammates Domantas Sabonis and Myles Turner.

Sabonis, who is currently on a tear as he hopes to make his third NBA All-Star team, is averaging 16.9 points, 11 rebounds, and 6.4 assists per game while shooting 58 percent from the field. The 26-year-old is shooting 78 percent at the rim this season, and he will hope to continue his success against the defensive-minded Turner.