Preview: Kings seek sixth-straight home win vs. Clippers

Have you had a chance to catch your breath? Good. Because we have more Sacramento Kings basketball on tap tonight.

Malik Monk’s stunning game-winner gave the Kings (10-6) its most impressive win of the young season as Sacramento erased a 24-point deficit en route to pulling out a 124-123 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday night at Golden 1 Center.

The incredible comeback win was meaningful for the Kings for a few reasons.

First, Sacramento improved to 4-0 in the NBA In-Season Tournament’s Group Play schedule and clinched Group C, setting up a single-elimination matchup against the New Orleans Pelicans that is set to take place on their home floor on Monday night.

Second, the Kings finally bested the Warriors, who had taken six of the past seven meetings (eight of the past nine if you count preseason) dating back to April’s seven-game NBA Playoff series.

The vibes are high for Sacramento, who won’t have much time to enjoy the win over Golden State as they prepare to face a struggling Los Angeles Clippers team in the second night of a back-to-back.

Los Angeles (7-9) has lost eight of its past 12 games as they continue to search for an identity after trading for star guard James Harden.

Can the Kings pick up a sixth-straight win at home? Will the Clippers get revenge on Sacramento for last season’s 176-175 marathon? Wednesday night should be a fun one.

MALIK MONK CALLED GAME.

KINGS WIN THE GAME AND WEST GROUP C 🏆 pic.twitter.com/GdQ0XW9iit

— NBA (@NBA) November 29, 2023

Sacramento Kings vs. Los Angeles Clippers Game Info

When: 7:00 PM PST

Where: Golden 1 Center – Sacramento, CA

TV: NBC Sports California

Radio: Sactown Sports 1140 AM – Coverage starts at 5:30 PM on Game Night

Line: Clippers -1.5, O/U 231.5

Be sure to tune in right here on Sactown Sports 1140 for all of your Kings vs. Clippers coverage, beginning at 5:30 PM PST on Game Night before a 7:00 PM PST tip-off from downtown Sacramento.

Tickets: Click here

Prepare For Things To Get Physical

While the Clippers have struggled to find a clear offensive identity with James Harden, Paul George, Kawhi Leonard, and Russell Westbrook on the roster, Los Angeles’ defense has had a solid start to the season.

The Clippers enter Wednesday night holding the NBA’s fifth-best defensive rating (109.6) and rank sixth in opponent points per game (108.4).

When you factor in Los Angeles’ substantial rebounding numbers (10th in rebounds per game), the Kings could have their hands full against an aggressive Los Angeles team that intends to make an offense-heavy team like Sacramento work.

Playing the passing lanes has been one of the Clippers’s strengths this year, as Los Angeles leads the NBA with 9.6 steals per game.

Although they will be playing with tired legs on the back-to-back, the Kings will need to dig deep and make smart plays while dealing with strong defenders like Leonard, George, and Robert Covington.

It might have taken a 24-point comeback and a wild final shot, but the Sacramento Kings completed a thrilling win over the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday.

The Kings are 10-6 and have won eight of their past 10 games 🔥 https://t.co/ESdh1z9xAb

— Frankie Cartoscelli (@FCartoscelli3) November 29, 2023

Level The Score

We’ve highlighted the Clippers’ strong defense, but Sacramento can also make things difficult on their Pacific Division rival on that end.

Los Angeles has been unable to find a consistent flow on offense, as they enter play with the NBA’s 20th highest-scoring offense (111.8 points per game) and 18th-ranked offensive rating.

Three-point shooting hasn’t been a strength for the Clippers this season, with Los Angeles’ 11.6 made triples per game coming in at 18th in the league.

The Kings did a good job of holding Golden State in check during the second half of Tuesday’s win, as Sacramento outscored the Warriors 69-51 while holding their opponents to 40 percent shooting from the field and 31 percent from downtown.

Let’s see if the Kings can carry that success into Wednesday’s game against the Clippers.

Notes

• Sacramento has won three-straight games against Los Angeles dating back to last season
• De’Aaron Fox enjoyed facing the Clippers last season (four games): 31.3 PTS, 5.8 REB, 6.8 AST, 58% FG, 38% 3PT, 3-1 record
• Paul George is the player to watch vs. Sacramento. Last season, George averaged 34.0 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 6.3 assists on 50/38/89 shooting splits against the Kings (three games). If Keegan Murray (back) misses another game, head coach Mike Brown could call on Kessler Edwards for defensive purposes.

Kings vs. Clippers Injury Report

Sacramento

• Keegan Murray – OUT (left SI joint irritation)
• Alex Len – OUT (high right ankle sprain)

Los Angeles

• Mason Plumlee – OUT (left MCL sprain)
• Brandon Boston Jr. – OUT (left quadriceps tendinopathy)

Upcoming Schedule

• Wednesday, November 29th – Sacramento Kings vs. Los Angeles Clippers – 7:00 PM PST
• Saturday, December 2nd – Sacramento Kings vs. Denver Nuggets – 7:00 PM PST
• December 3rd-10th: NBA In-Season Tournament Week (Schedule TBD)
• Monday, December 4th – Sacramento Kings vs. New Orleans Pelicans – 7:00 PM PST**
• Monday, December 11th – Sacramento Kings vs. Brooklyn Nets – 7:00 PM PST
• Tuesday, December 12th – Sacramento Kings @ Los Angeles Clippers – 7:30 PM PST
• Thursday, December 14th – Sacramento Kings vs. Oklahoma City Thunder – 7:00 PM PST

** NBA In-Season Tournament Knockout Round

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