Preview: Kings vs. Warriors takes center stage on TNT
Jan 25, 2024, 9:21 AM | Updated: 12:07 pm
(Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)
(Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)
Here we go again.
The Sacramento Kings and Golden State Warriors have gotten very familiar with each other over the past nine months, and the two Northern California foes will meet for the final time this regular season on Thursday in San Francisco.
Golden State (19-22) will be playing the second night of a back-to-back against a Sacramento (24-18) team that snapped a season-long four-game losing streak on Monday night against the Atlanta Hawks.
The Warriors have lost four of their past six games, but a win over the Hawks on Wednesday night puts them in a positive mind space heading into Thursday’s matchup against the Kings, who will be playing the first game of a two-week, seven-game road trip.
Sacramento has not beaten Golden State at Chase Center in a regular season matchup since February 25, 2020. Is tonight the night the Kings break the streak?
Sacramento Kings vs. Golden State Warriors Game Info
When: 7:00 PM PST
Where: Chase Center – San Francisco, CA
TV: TNT
Radio: Sactown Sports 1140 AM – Coverage starts at 5:30 PM on Game Night
Line: Kings -1.5, O/U 242.5
Be sure to tune in right here on Sactown Sports 1140 for all of your Kings vs. Warriors coverage, beginning at 5:30 PM PST on Game Night before a 7:00 PM PST tip-off from downtown San Francisco.
Find It From Three-Point Land
In three matchups against Golden State this season, the Kings have struggled to find the bottom of the net from downtown.
Sacramento is shooting 31 percent from three against the Warriors on just under 40 attempts from beyond the arc this season, including an 11-for-35 (31%) performance during a 102-101 loss in San Francisco on November 1st.
35 percent is usually a solid goal for the Kings, as Sacramento holds a 5-12 record when shooting below the mark. When the Kings shoot 35 percent or better from deep, they have a 19-7 record over 26 games.
Red Velvet for 3️⃣ pic.twitter.com/ErZX3HVsCt
— Kings on NBCS (@NBCSKings) January 23, 2024
Golden State has allowed opponents to shoot 41 percent from three over the past four games, meaning that players like Kevin Huerter, Keegan Murray, Harrison Barnes, and De’Aaron Fox (who went 0-for-5 on Monday) will need to be ready to knock down open looks.
Battle In The Paint
Of course, each time these two teams meet, all eyes shift towards one specific matchup–and no, it isn’t the battle of All-Star guards in Stephen Curry and De’Aaron Fox.
Following what transpired during the NBA Playoff series between the Kings and Warriors last April, criticism of Domantas Sabonis was elevated as the All-NBA big struggled to combat Golden State center Kevon Looney on the glass.
Looney was a monster during the seven-game series, posting three 20+ rebound games while averaging 15.1 boards per game (5.3 on the offensive end).
In three head-to-head meetings this season, Sabonis has struggled to convert field goals as efficiently as his 61 percent season average, shooting just 44 percent as Looney and the Warriors continue to apply pressure in the paint.
Sabonis-to-Huerter DHO triple 🎯 pic.twitter.com/b3Z3vfGwNI
— Kings on NBCS (@NBCSKings) January 23, 2024
While Sabonis has struggled to score around the basket against Golden State, he continues to impact the game in other areas, averaging 12.3 rebounds and 8.3 assists to go along with 17.0 points and 1.3 steals per game.
The talented center has one more chance to silence the doubters, and Sabonis can do just that with a strong performance on Thursday as the Kings look to secure its first regular season win at Chase Center in nearly four years.
Notes
- De’Aaron Fox is averaging 20.9 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 4.4 assists over his past ten games while shooting 41/36/77.
- Stephen Curry is averaging 30.3 points per game on 53/47/100 shooting splits in three meetings with Sacramento this season.
- Keegan Murray has been on a tear as of late, as the second-year forward enters play averaging 18.8 points and 6.4 rebounds per game on 54 percent shooting from the field and 41 percent from three-point range (5.8 attempts per game) over the past ten games.
Kings vs. Warriors Injury Report
Sacramento
- Sasha Vezenkov – OUT (right ankle sprain)
Golden State
- TBD (Report will be published at 1:30 PM PST)
Upcoming Schedule
- Thursday, January 25th – Sacramento Kings @ Golden State Warriors – 7:00 PM PST
- Saturday, January 27th – Sacramento Kings @ Dallas Mavericks – 6:00 PM PST
- Monday, January 29th – Sacramento Kings @ Memphis Grizzlies – 5:00 PM PST
- Wednesday, January 31st – Sacramento Kings @ Miami Heat – 4:30 PM PST
- Friday, February 2nd – Sacramento Kings @ Indiana Pacers – 4:30 PM PST
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