Preview: Kings to begin playoff push against Lillard, Blazers
Feb 23, 2023, 8:56 AM | Updated: 1:53 pm
(Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
(Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
It’s time to begin the playoff push.
The Sacramento Kings (32-25) will begin its final 25-game stretch on Thursday night when they face All-Star guard Damian Lillard and the Portland Trail Blazers (28-30) at Golden 1 Center.
Portland ran into some weather trouble when attempting to depart for Sacramento on Wednesday evening, meaning they will likely arrive in California’s capital city around noon today–just seven hours before action is set to tip off.
For a team like the Kings that is looking to keep pace in a packed Western Conference, the Trail Blazers are a solid test for Sacramento when it comes to seeing if this group can take advantage of teams that are currently spinning their wheels in the standings.
The Blazers have been hovering near the .500 mark all season long and sit in the 12th spot in the West–although they sit just 4.5 games back of the third-spot Kings. A win on Thursday can create another game of separation for Sacramento, or improve Portland’s playoff chances by gaining a game on a team they are chasing in the standings.
These two teams will be meeting for the first time since the season opener on October 19th when the Blazers secured a 115-108 win at Golden 1 Center.
A win would even the season series for the Kings, something that could prove valuable down the stretch as the West playoff picture will come into focus over the next month of action.
Sacramento Kings vs. Portland Trail Blazers 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: Kings -6.5, O/U: 240
Tickets: Click Here
Contain Dame
UPDATE: Damian Lillard (rest) has been ruled OUT for tonight’s game.
With noted Kings killer Jusuf Nurkic (calf) and sharpshooting guard Anfernee Simons (ankle) out of action on Thursday, Sacramento’s defense will have its attention fully turned to Damian Lillard.
Lillard has been one of the league’s top scorers this season as the seven-time All-Star enters play averaging 31.4 points per game on 47 percent shooting from the field and 37 percent from deep. Fresh off of winning his first 3-Point Contest on Saturday night, the Oakland native will likely be more aggressive on the offensive end with two of his starting teammates sidelined.
Although Lillard scored just 20 points (5/18 FG) during Portland’s season-opening win over the Kings in October, the Trail Blazers will be missing a combined 35 points per game of scoring without Simons and Nurkic.
More shots for Dame could spell trouble for a Sacramento defense that has been sliced and diced by opposing guards all season, but if the Kings want to solidify its position in the standings, they will need to put an end to their revolving door defensive tendencies.
Lillard has been putting Portland on his back over the past 20 games by averaging 37.1 points per contest on 50 percent shooting from the field and 38 from beyond the arc. The guard has scored 40+ points on eight occasions over the past 18 games.
Sacramento could look to send Davion Mitchell as Lillard on Thursday, but Mitchell’s shortcomings on offense might force De’Aaron Fox to take his fellow All-Star counterpart.
It isn’t rocket science–if the Kings contain Damian Lillard, they have an increasingly likely chance to win this game.
Live By The Three, Die By The Three
The Kings finally broke through from beyond the arc during their final game before the break as Sacramento went 14-for-38 (36%) from deep against the Phoenix Suns last Tuesday.
Before their performance against Phoenix, the Kings had shot 32 percent from three-point range since January 28th, but thanks to contributions from Kevin Huerter, De’Aaron Fox, and Terence Davis, Sacramento was able to get back on track.
Can the Kings keep that momentum going on Thursday?
Portland enters play with one of the worst three-point defenses in the NBA, allowing opponent to shoot 37 percent from deep this season (27th in the league). Sacramento holds a 19-6 record when shooting 37 percent or higher from three-point land this season, meaning the Kings have a good chance of winning this game if shots continue to fall.
With Malik Monk returning from an ankle injury and players like Kevin Huerter (seven three-point field goals over his past two games) and Keegan Murray (53% from deep over his past five games) in the fold, expect Sacramento to be aggressive from deep against Portland’s sluggish three-point defense.
Recent History
- Portland defeated the Kings during October 19th’s season opener–the only previous matchup between the two teams this season
- Sacramento holds a 3-4 record against the Blazers at Golden 1 Center since the start of the 2018-19 season
Injury Report
Sacramento
- KZ Okpala – OUT (bilateral knee soreness)
- Neemias Queta and Keon Ellis are on assignment with G-League affiliate Stockton.
Portland
- Damian Lillard – OUT (rest)
- Jerami Grant – OUT (rest)
- Jusuf Nurkic – OUT (left calf strain)
- Justise Winslow – OUT (left ankle sprain)
- Anferneee Simons– OUT (right ankle sprain)
- Ibou Badj – OUT (left knee soreness)
Upcoming Sacramento Kings Schedule
Thursday, February 23rd – Sacramento Kings vs. Portland Trail Blazers – 7:00 PM PST
Friday, February 24th – Sacramento Kings @ Los Angeles Clippers – 7:30 PM PST
Sunday, February 26th – Sacramento Kings @ Oklahoma City Thunder – 4:00 PM PST
Tuesday, February 28th – Sacramento Kings @ Oklahoma City Thunder – 5:00 PM PST
Friday, March 3rd – Sacramento Kings vs. Los Angeles Clippers – 7:00 PM PST
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Frankie Cartoscelli is the Kings’ beat reporter for SactownSports.com. Follow Frankie on Twitter.
