Preview: Kings hope to beat Bucks for first time since 2016

Mar 13, 2023, 1:38 PM | Updated: 2:56 pm

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - DECEMBER 07: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks is defended by...

(Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)

Sacramento Kings Beat Writer

In a year that the Sacramento Kings have reached several milestones, they will aim to add another achievement to the list when they face the NBA-best Milwaukee Bucks on Monday night.

One game removed from securing its first 40-win season since 2005-06, the Kings (40-26) will have a tall task ahead of them if they want to light the beam for the 41st time.

Milwaukee (48-19) enters play with the best record in the league, one that has been made possible by owning a top-10 offense (9th in points per game) and top-three defense (3rd in defensive rating).

Sacramento has an active 13-game losing streak against the Bucks that dates back to November 2016, meaning that the Kings have never beaten Milwaukee at Golden 1 Center (0-6).

If you believe in due, Sacramento is very due.

Sacramento Kings vs. Milwaukee Bucks 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

Line: Bucks -2.0, O/U: 244.5

Tickets: Click Here

Battle of the Boards

For a team like the Kings that struggles to pull down rebounds, they have their work cut out for them on Monday night.

Milwaukee enters play as the NBA’s top rebounding team (49.1 per game), meaning that players not named Domantas Sabonis need to carry their weight and help out on the glass.

The last time that these two teams met on December 7th, the Bucks out-rebounded Sacramento 50-40 and used 17 offensive rebounds to generate 25 second-chance points. Failing to box out and keep Giannis Antetokounmpo (who is currently listed as questionable due to hand soreness) out of the paint must be a top priority on Monday.

If the Kings can take away second-chance opportunities, they will have a better chance at coming away from this game with a win.

One game removed from allowing the New York Knicks to secure 23 offensive rebounds, Sacramento held the Phoenix Suns to seven offensive boards while winning the second-chance points battle (14-7).

More of the same will be needed against a Bucks team that has plenty of length in Antetokounmpo, Brook Lopez, Bobby Portis, and Khris Middleton.

Will The Triples Fall?

The Kings actually had a chance to beat the Bucks in Milwaukee on December 7th, but they fell short for a few reasons–some were listed in the previous section of this preview (rebounds, second-chance points).

While Sacramento was outscored 29-19 in the fourth quarter of a game that they ended up losing 126-113, you can also point to the team’s poor three-point shooting as a reason that they came up short.

Malik Monk (0/7), De’Aaron Fox (1/6), and the Kings went 12-of-38 (31%) from beyond the three-point arc during the loss to the Bucks, but the team has been locked in from deep after returning from the All-Star break.

De'Aaron step-back three 🔥 pic.twitter.com/r6u10aM6aD

— Kings on NBCS (@NBCSKings) March 12, 2023

Sacramento is shooting 40 percent from three-point land during its 8-1 stretch, and players like Kevin Huerter (54% over the past five games), Trey Lyles (47% over the past five games), and Davion Mitchell (44 percent over the past six games) have stepped up to help push the team’s play to the next level.

The Kings are 24-7 this season when they convert at least 37 percent of its three-point attempts. Keep an eye on how they fare against a Milwaukee defense that holds opponents to 34.5% shooting from deep this season (third-best three-point defense in the NBA).

Recent History

As we have already discussed, the Milwaukee Bucks have flat out owned the Sacramento Kings for nearly a decade.

The Kings haven’t beaten the Bucks since February 1, 2016 in a game that Rudy Gay led Sacramento with 32 points and Rajon Rondo scored 19 points. Golden 1 Center was still being outfitted with stadium seats as it was still months away from being opened.

Sacramento has lost 13-straight games to Milwaukee, but the Bucks’ luck has to run out eventually… right?

Injury Report

Sacramento

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

Milwaukee

Giannis Antetokounmpo – QUESTIONABLE (right hand soreness)
Wesley Matthews – PROBABLE (right calf strain)
Joe Ingles – OUT (knee injury management)

Be sure to get all of your Kings vs. Bucks 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 Sacramento.