Preview: Surging Kings To Face LeBron-less Lakers

Nov 11, 2022, 9:16 AM | Updated: 12:17 pm

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 30: Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers is guarded by Chim...

(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Sacramento Kings Beat Writer

The Sacramento Kings will face their old rivals for the first time this season when they travel to Southern California for a matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night.

Los Angeles (2-9) is off to a rough start as they currently hold the second-worst record in the entire NBA. A matchup against the Kings won’t bring any relief as the Lakers will take the floor against Sacramento without the services of LeBron James (adductor strain).

After returning home from a 2-2 road trip that was blemished by officiating controversy, the Kings (4-6) turned in their strongest performance of the season during Wednesday night’s impressive win over the dangerous Cleveland Cavaliers.

Can Sacramento prove that they have turned a corner after an 0-4 start to the season?

Here’s everything that you need to know for tonight’s Kings vs Lakers showdown:

Through 10 games, Sacramento holds the 8th-best point differential in the Western Conference (-1.2)

The Kings have been in every game that they have played this season and have shown that they can compete on any given night.

I can’t help but feel…optimistic.

— Frankie Cartoscelli (@FCartoscelli3) November 10, 2022

Where To Watch & Listen To Kings vs Lakers

When: 7:30 PM PST

Where: Crypto.com Arena – Los Angeles, CA

TV: NBC Sports California

Radio: Sactown Sports 1140 AM – Pregame coverage starts at 6:00 PM PST on Game Night

What To Watch For

The Return

During the 2021-22 season, Malik Monk had the best season of his career while playing in a Lakers uniform.

When free agency opened up a few months ago, Monk quickly signed a two-year deal with Sacramento to reunite with his Kentucky running mate in De’Aaron Fox. After struggling out of the gate this season, Monk has been on an absolute tear, both scoring and distributing the basketball.

Over the past four games, Monk is averaging 18.0 points and 5.3 assists per game while shooting 50 percent from the field and 44 percent from beyond the three-point arc.

Friday night will mark the first time that Monk has faced his old team since inking a deal with the Kings in July.

After an 0-4 start to the season, the Kings needed somebody from their second unit to step up.

Malik Monk has done just that, both as a scorer and distributor.

Monk over the last four games:

18.0 PTS
2.3 REB
5.3 AST
50% FG
44% 3PT
27.1 MINpic.twitter.com/npkzef9Gxu

— Frankie Cartoscelli (@FCartoscelli3) November 10, 2022

Control AD

Sacramento holds a 4-2 record since beginning the season on a four-game losing streak, and they will need to keep Anthony Davis at bay if they hope to secure another victory on Friday.

As we have seen over the past two games, it’s one player that has largely made the difference in Sacramento’s close finishes:

Steph Curry scored 47 points during Monday’s 116-113 loss in Golden State
Donovan Mitchell scored 38 points during Wednesday’s 127-120 win over Cleveland

The Kings defense is still very much a work in progress, and they have a knack for letting the best opposing player on the floor dominate games. If they want to beat the Lakers with ease, odds are they will have to contain the eight-time All-Star in Davis.

Lumping in the fact that Sacramento has thin forward depth, players like Domantas Sabonis, Harrison Barnes, and Chimezie Metu will need to hold their own against Davis.

During the 2021-22 season, Davis averaged 24.0 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 3.0 blocks per game on 47 percent shooting from the field over two games.

Recent History

Both teams split a four-game season series in 2021-22, with Sacramento claiming a win on the road (11/26/21) and at home (1/12/22).
The Kings are 4-3 against the Lakers since the beginning of the 2020-21 season.
Los Angeles has a large lead in the all-time series (280-161)