Preview: Kings hope to build momentum vs. Jazz

Less than 24 hours ago, a dark cloud was hanging over the Sacramento Kings following an 0-2 start to the season. By the end of tonight, that cloud could turn into a ray of sunshine.

Fresh off of a win over the Portland Trail Blazers at Golden 1 Center—the Kings’ first of the season—Sacramento will embark on a four-game road trip that will begin on Tuesday night against the Utah Jazz (0-3).

Both teams will be playing on the second night of a back-to-back, with Utah falling short to the Dallas Mavericks by a final of 110-102 on Monday in Texas.

The Kings (1-2) will hope to keep the forward momentum moving in this one as they face a Jazz team that currently holds the worst net rating in the NBA (-16.5).

Can Sacramento build its first winning streak of the 2024-25 season? Let’s find out.

Sacramento Kings @ Utah Jazz Game Info

When: 6:00 PM PDT

Where: Delta Center– Salt Lake City, UT

TV: NBC Sports California

Radio: Sactown Sports 1140 AM – Coverage starts at 2:00 PM PDT on The Drive Guys

Line: Kings -6.5, O/U 234.5

Be sure to tune in right here on Sactown Sports 1140 for all of your Kings vs. Jazz coverage, beginning at 2:00 PM PST on The Drive Guys before a 6:00 PM PST tip-off from downtown Salt Lake City.

The Return of Red Velvet

It was an up-and-down 2023-24 campaign for Kevin Huerter–one that concluded with a season-ending shoulder injury–but the veteran guard appears to have turned a corner.

Huerter has been a force on the perimeter over the past two games, scoring 32 points and shooting eight-of-16 from three-point range to provide Sacramento with a sharpshooting threat from three-point range.

The Kings’ new-look offense with six-time All-Star forward DeMar DeRozan in the fold is still finding its footing, but having surefire perimeter threats like Huerter and Keegan Murray will only make things more difficult for opposing defenses that have their hands full with DeRozan, De’Aaron Fox, and Domantas Sabonis.

It’s been a welcome sight to see Huerter knock down looks from deep. We’ll see if he can stay hot against a Jazz team that has allowed opponents to shoot 36 percent from beyond the arc over its first three games this season.

The DeRozan Effect

Huerter has been effective for Sacramento, but the Kings’ hot hand thus far has undoubtedly been DeMar DeRozan.

Over his first three games in purple, DeRozan has been as advertised, averaging 24.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 2.3 steals per game on 52 percent shooting from the field and 33 percent from deep.

The future Hall of Famer has made a living at getting to the foul line during his 15-year career, and he’s continued to be a headache for opposing defenses in the early stages of this season.

DeRozan has attempted 28 free throws over three games (T-10th in the NBA) and converted 24 (10th in the NBA), getting to the line for an average of 9.3 attempts per game. During Monday’s win, the forward knocked down nine of his ten attempts from the charity stripe.

Having DeRozan on the floor gives Sacramento an entirely new dynamic, especially when the offense stalls. Instead of hitching the wagon to hopes that De’Aaron Fox or Malik Monk can pull the Kings out of a spiral, the Kings can find DeRozan in the mid-range, where he can either get to work in the post to try and get to the line, or be a hub for others’ off-ball movement (5.3 assists per game last season).

It’s only been three games, but DeRozan seems to be a seamless fit in this Sacramento offense.

DeMar DeRozan at halftime:

19 points
5/8 FG — 9/10 FT

He ended it with a buzzer beater, after a couple of pump fakes, of course. pic.twitter.com/gxSryjRfTA

— Brenden Nunes (@BrendenNunesNBA) October 29, 2024

Notes

• Sacramento has won four straight games vs. the Jazz, including a a three-game season series sweep last season.
• The Jazz’s most recent win over the Kings: March 20, 2023
• Utah enters play on Tuesday ranked last in the NBA in points per game (104.0) and 2PT FG%, while coming in at 28th in 3PT shooting (28%).
• Domantas Sabonis is one triple-double away from taking sole possession of 10th place on the all-time list, passing Larry Bird (59).

Kings vs. Jazz Injury Report

Sacramento

• Devin Carter – OUT (left shoulder surgery)
• Orlando Robinson – OUT (left MCL sprain)
• The rest of the report has not been released (playing the second game of a back-to-back)

Utah

Jazz Injury Report:

OUT – Isaiah Collier (right hamstring strain)

OUT – Taylor Hendricks (right fibula fracture)

OUT – Micah Potter (Two-Way)

OUT – Jason Preston (Two-Way)

OUT – Oscar Tshiebwe (Two-Way)

QUESTIONABLE – Drew Eubanks (illness)

QUESTIONABLE – Johnny Juzang…

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) October 29, 2024

Sacramento Kings 2024-25 Schedule

Regular Season

• Tuesday, October 29th – @ Utah Jazz – 6 pm PDT
• Friday, November 1st – @ Atlanta Hawks – 4 pm PDT
• Saturday, November 2nd – @ Toronto Raptors – 4:30 PM PDT
• Monday, November 4th – @ Miami Heat – 5:15 pm PST
• Wednesday, November 6th – vs. Toronto Raptors – 7:00 pm PST

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