Preview: Kings look to snap two-game skid in rematch with T-Wolves

Jan 30, 2023, 10:04 AM | Updated: 2:27 pm

Sacramento Kings guard De'Aaron Fox guard D'Angelo Russell of the Minnesota Timberwolves....

(Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)

Editor & Kings Beat Writer

After winning six-straight games, the Sacramento Kings (27-21) have fallen on hard times as they will look to snap a two-game skid on Monday night in Minnesota.

Sacramento has lost three of four after reeling off its second winning streak of six games or more this season, with Saturday night’s loss against the Timberwolves (27-25) acting as the latest blemish on the team’s past week of action.

Minnesota used a substantial second-half effort from star guard Anthony Edwards (26 of his 34 points came during the second half) as the T-Wolves outlasted De’Aaron Fox’s 21-point fourth quarter to secure a crucial win over their Western Conference counterpart.

The 117-110 win over the Kings brought Minnesota within two games of Sacramento in the standings, meaning another win on Monday could put pressure on Sacramento, who open play in the third spot in the West.

Here’s everything that you need to know for tonight’s Kings vs. T-Wolves action:

De'Aaron doing all he can to keep the Kings alive pic.twitter.com/XAHrz1fSVL

— Kings on NBCS (@NBCSKings) January 29, 2023

Sacramento Kings vs. Minnesota Timberwolves Game Info

When: 5:00 PM PST

Where: Target Center – Minneapolis, MN

TV: NBC Sports California

Radio: Sactown Sports 1140 AM – Pregame coverage starts at 3:30 PM PST on Game Night

Line: Kings -1, O/U: 238

Stop DLo & Edwards

If this wasn’t obvious, I don’t know what else to tell you.

Coming into Saturday night’s game, it was clear that a weak Sacramento defense needed to focus on Minnesota’s dangerous backcourt of D’Angelo Russell and Anthony Edwards. Mission failed.

Russell, a noted Kings killer, exploded for 23 points on a perfect seven-for-seven shooting performance from downtown during the first half. While Russell only scored two points during the second half, Edwards took over as an automatic scoring threat during the final 24 minutes of play.

The third-year guard scored 26 of his game-high 34 points during the second half, extinguishing each run that Sacramento made with bucket after bucket.

Thanks to Russell and Edwards’ contributions, Minnesota finished the night having shot 52 percent from the field and 45 percent from beyond the arc. While the Kings go through the motions of their recent offensive woes, the defense has to take one or both of these players out of their comfort zone if they want to avoid replicating Saturday night’s result.

Offense, Where Are You?

As good as Sacramento’s offense has been this season, the past two games have been outliers for the NBA’s number-one offense.

The Kings scored a season-low 95 points during last Wednesday’s loss to the Toronto Raptors and followed up that performance with 110 points on nine-of-33 (27%) shooting from three-point land during Saturday’s loss to Minnesota.

For a team that is averaging 119.5 points per game (1st in the NBA) and has relied on out-gunning opponents, it’s going to be tough for Sacramento to come out on top when the offense isn’t clicking–especially when the team has yet to prove that it can hold its own on the defensive end.

The Kings are an offensive juggernaut when firing on all cylinders, but losses typically follow when triples don’t fall.

In eight games this season when Sacramento shoots less than 30 percent from downtown, the Kings hold a 1-7 record. When Sacramento fails to score at least 115 points, the Kings are 3-15 this season.

Sacramento is due for a bounce-back performance, and Monday night seems like an idea time to snap out of the recent offensive funk.

Recent History

The Kings aren’t fans of the Target Center.

Since the start of the 2017-18 season, Minnesota holds a 7-1 record against Sacramento when playing on their home floor.

Injury Report

Sacramento

No injuries to report

Minnesota

Rudy Gobert – QUESTIONABLE (right groin soreness)
Taurean Prince – QUESTIONABLE (left ankle sprain)
Karl Anthony-Towns – OUT (right calf strain)
Jordan McLaughlin – OUT (left calf strain)
Luka Garza, Josh Minot, Wendell Moore Jr., and Matt Ryan are on G-League assignment.