Preview: Playoff-bound Kings hope to close in on 2nd-seed with win in Portland

Mar 31, 2023, 7:55 AM | Updated: 8:11 am

PORTLAND, OREGON - MARCH 29: Malik Monk #0 of the Sacramento Kings in action during the third quart...

(Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)

Sacramento Kings Beat Writer

The Sacramento Kings have clinched a top-four spot in the NBA Playoffs. Now what?

After clinching its first postseason berth since 2006, the Kings (46-30) will be back in action on Friday night when they face a short-handed Portland Trail Blazers (32-44) team for the final time this season.

While the playoff drought has ended, Sacramento isn’t ready to coast to the regular season finish line just yet, as they will have all hands on deck in Portland on Friday night. The Kings trail the second-seed Memphis Grizzlies by two games in the Western Conference with six games remaining.

Can Sacramento track down the Grizz? The end of the regular season is near, and the Kings are gearing up for one last push for a top-two finish.

Sacramento Kings vs. Portland Trail Blazers Game Info

When: 7:00 PM PST

Where: Moda Center – Portland, OR

TV: NBC Sports California

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

Line: Kings -14.5, O/U: 231

The Chase For Number Two

Sacramento sits two games behind the second-seed Memphis Grizzlies in the Western Conference standings with six games remaining, meaning the margin for error is slim if the Kings want a chance at securing a home-court advantage during the two opening rounds of the NBA Playoffs.

After losing to the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday, the Grizzlies’ lead was reduced to two games. Sacramento could have another opportunity to chop away at the deficit as the Clippers will face Memphis again on Friday.

The Kings, who will be facing the severely short-handed Blazers for the second time this week, have a chance to put itself one game back of the Grizzlies with five games remaining int he regular season. Sacramento owns the tie-breaker over Memphis, meaning that if the two teams finish the season in a tie for second place, the Kings will get the two-seed.

Here’s how the schedules for both teams will unfold over the final nine days of the regular season:

Kings

March 31st @ Portland
April 2nd vs. San Antonio
April 4th @ New Orleans
April 5th @ Dallas
April 7th vs. Golden State
April 9th @ Denver

Grizzlies

March 31st vs. Clippers
April 2nd @ Chicago
April 4th vs. Portland
April 5th @ New Orleans
April 7th @Milwaukee
April 9th @ Oklahoma City

50 wins?

The Kings are flirting with its first 50-win season since 2004-05, but they’ll need a 4-2 finish over the final stretch in order to achieve the milestone.

A 50-win season is something that players like De’Aaron Fox and Harrison Barnes have spoken about as a measuring stick for winning teams, with Barnes telling Carmichael Dave and Jason Ross this week that a 50-win season remains his top goal.

“My goal for this group is to get 50 wins,” Barnes told Dave and Jason on Friday. “If you can get 50 wins in this league, it’s an amazing step of where you’re at, and where you’re at. It’s a great goal.”

50 wins is on the table, and the Kings can make it happen if they can avoid a 3-3 finish to the season. Anything better than a .500 finish over the final six games can put them over the top.

Clinch Scenarios

Sacramento is close to clinching its first Pacific Division title since 2002-03, and they could do so as soon as tonight in Portland.

First Pacific Division title since 2002-03 on deck for the Sacramento Kings? 👀 pic.twitter.com/PuoIWFotR2

— Frankie Cartoscelli (@FCartoscelli3) March 31, 2023

Injury Report

Sacramento

Keon Ellis – OUT (G-League)
Neemias Queta – OUT (G-League)

Portland

Damian Lillard – OUT (right calf tightness)
Jerami Grant – OUT (left quad contusion)
Jusuf Nurkic – OUT (right knee soreness)
Anfernee Simons – OUT (right foot soreness)
Justise Winslow – OUT (left ankle sprain)
Ibout Badji – OUT (left knee surgery recovery)
Ryan Arcidiacono – DOUBTFUL (lumbar soreness)
Cam Reddish – DOUBTFUL (lumbar soreness)
Trendon Watford – QUESTIONABLE (right ankle sprain)

Be sure to get all of your Kings vs. Trail Blazers coverage right here on Sactown Sports 1140 beginning at 5:30 PM PST on Game Night with Scott Marsh and Henry ‘The High Flyer’ Turner before a 7:00 PM PST tip-off from downtown Portland.