SACRAMENTO KINGS

Kings to conclude preseason against new-look Clippers

Oct 17, 2024, 7:19 AM | Updated: 7:20 am

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 11: De'Aaron Fox #5 of the Sacramento Kings in action against t...

(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

The Sacramento Kings will play one final exhibition game on Thursday night when they face the Los Angeles Clippers at their shiny new home, the Intuit Dome.

It’s been an overall rough preseason for Sacramento, as they enter play against the Clippers with an 0-4 record thus far as next week’s regular-season opener against the Minnesota Timberwolves approaches.

Three-point shooting woes and injuries have plagued the Kings thus far in training camp and preseason, but securing a win against a Kawhi Leonard-less Los Angeles squad could provide Sacramento with some confidence heading into the regular season.

Here’s what you need to know for Thursday’s preseason finale.

Sacramento Kings @ Los Angeles Clippers Game Info

When: 7:30 PM PST

Where: Intuit Dome  – Inglewood, CA

TV: Kings.com, NBA League Pass

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

Line: Clippers -3.5, O/U 217.5

Be sure to tune in right here on Sactown Sports 1140 for all of your Kings vs. Clippers coverage, beginning at 2:00 PM PST on The Drive Guys before a 7:30 PM PST tip-off from Inglewood.

Three-Point Woes

Over the past two seasons, Sacramento has shot nearly 37 percent from three-point land while logging top-five finishes in made three-point field goals each year.

Through four preseason games, the Kings don’t look like the same deep threat that they have been since the start of the 2022-23 season.

Sacramento is shooting 25 percent from three-point range thus far in the preseason–dead last in the NBA. For reference, last preseason wasn’t a strong showing for the Beam Team in that aspect as well, as the Kings finished the preseason ranked 26th among NBA teams after shooting 31 percent from deep.

This offense isn’t a polished product. What we see now isn’t indicative that Sacramento will be the worst three-point shooting team in the league. Preseason numbers and results rarely translate to the regular season, but a strong showing from the perimeter on Thursday against the Clippers would alleviate some concerns.

More Bench Production

The Kings have played with a thin bench for all four preseason games as Kevin Huerter (shoulder) and Trey Lyles (groin) work towards a return to the floor.

Without those two rotation staples, Sacramento has seen a clear drop-off in production once head coach Mike Brown begins shuffling through his substitutions. Malik Monk (for personal reasons) was also out of action for one-and-a-half games, causing Brown to reach deeper into his bench.

Even with Monk back in the fold for Tuesday’s game in Utah, the Kings got little to no help from its second unit during a three-point loss to the Jazz. Sacramento received just 21 points from its bench during the defeat, while the starters shouldered the load by scoring 93 points.

The second unit will look much different once Huerter and Lyles return, but until then, getting more of a balanced effort from Monk, Jordan McLaughlin, Alex Len, and Isaac Jones would be a positive sign on Thursday in Los Angeles.

Sacramento Kings 2024-25 Schedule

Preseason

  • Thursday, October 17th – @ Los Angeles Clippers – 7 pm PDT

Regular Season

  • Thursday, October 24th – vs. Minnesota Timberwolves – 7 pm PDT
  • Saturday, October 26th – @ Los Angeles Lakers – 7:30 pm PDT
  • Monday, October 28th – vs. Portland Trail Blazers – 7 pm PDT
  • Tuesday, October 29th – @ Utah Jazz – 6 pm PDT
  • Friday, November 1st – @ Atlanta Hawks – 4 pm PDT

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