Sacramento Kings at the All-Star break: 2022-23 vs. 2023-24
Feb 20, 2024, 11:14 AM | Updated: 11:48 am
(Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
(Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
The final stretch of the 2023-24 NBA season is set to begin this week as teams around the league start their push for the postseason.
While the Sacramento Kings entered the All-Star break with a respectable record of 31-23, they currently sit in the eighth spot in the Western Conference standings, putting them in Play-In territory with 28 games remaining.
It remains to be seen which six teams will finish the season atop the Conference standings, but Sacramento appears poised to face off with teams around them like Dallas, New Orleans, Phoenix, Golden State, and the Los Angeles Lakers for a Playoff spot.
The road to the postseason won’t be easy, especially for a Kings team that holds the eighth-hardest remaining strength of schedule in the NBA (sixth-hardest in the West)
Still, Sacramento is in a solid position to make some noise during the final stretch. Let’s look at where this Kings team stands at the break compared to last season’s inaugural ‘Beam Team.’
DE’AARON IS ICE COLD IN THE CLUTCH 🥶 pic.twitter.com/gvTYtbzzt1
— Kings on NBCS (@NBCSKings) February 15, 2024
Sacramento at the All-Star Break: 2022-23 vs. 2023-24
Record
- 2022-23: 32-25
- 2023-24: 31-23
Place in the Western Conference standings
- 2022-23: 3rd
- 2023-24: 8th
Offensive Rating
- 2022-23: 117.4 (2nd in NBA)
- 2023-24: 117.2 (14th in NBA)
Defensive Rating
- 2022-23: 115.2 (23rd in NBA)
- 2023-24: 116.7 (18th in NBA)
Points per Game
- 2022-23: 119.5 (1st in NBA)
- 2023-24: 118.4 (8th in NBA)
As you can see in the numbers, Sacramento has maintained its output on the offensive end while improving its standing on defense, yet they are eighth in the standings.
How can that be?
Well, if you look at the rest of the Western Conference, it’s clear that teams around the Kings have gotten better — in some cases, much better.
At the 2023 All-Star break, only two teams possessed winning percentages of .600 or higher — the Denver Nuggets and Memphis Grizzlies. In 2024, that number has swelled to six teams, pushing Sacramento out of the top six:
The Kings will play 17 of their final 28 games at home, which could help give them an edge in the race for an NBA Playoff spot.
Coming back from last year’s All-Star break, Sacramento only played 12 of their final 25 games at Golden 1 Center.
While last year’s team held the best road record in the NBA (25-16), the 2023-24 squad has fared better on their home floor (15-9, .625). The Kings have been better at home this season, and their home-heavy portion of the schedule has arrived at an ideal time.
When comparing the past two Sacramento Kings teams to one another, most numbers — as well as the roster personnel — are the same, but the West has gotten better. Still, just 1.5 games separate the Kings from the fifth spot, and 4.5 games stand between them and the home-court-advantage-holding top-four spots.
One high or low week for any team in the West could alter the standings, and Sacramento will have no shortage of essential games over the next seven weeks.
When is the next Sacramento Kings game?
Sacramento will enter the All-Star break looking to rest and recover for the final stretch of the regular season.
Once the Kings return from the week-long break, they will face rookie sensation Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs–owner of the worst record in the Western Conference–on Thursday, February 22nd, at Golden 1 Center.
Be sure to tune in right here on Sactown Sports 1140 for all of your Kings vs. Spurs coverage, beginning at 5:30 PM PST on Game Night before a 7:00 PM PST tip-off from downtown Sacramento.
Upcoming Schedule
- NBA All-Star break – February 15-21
- Thursday, February 22nd – Sacramento Kings vs. San Antonio Spurs – 7:00 PM PST
- Sunday, February 25th – Sacramento Kings @ Los Angeles Clippers – 6:30 PM PST
- Monday, February 26th – Sacramento Kings vs. Miami Heat – 7:00 PM PST
- Wednesday, February 28th – Sacramento Kings @ Denver Nuggets – 6:00 PM PST
- Friday, March 1st – Sacramento Kings @ Minnesota Timberwolves – 5:00 PM PST
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