Programming note: Kings-Spurs coverage starts tonight at 5 p.m. with Kings Pregame Live on Comcast SportsNet California (territory restrictions apply) Channel locations
Sacramento (9-6) visits San Antonio (10-4) for the final game of its four-game road trip, looking to bounce back from a 102-89 loss to the Rockets on Wednesday.
The Kings defeated San Antonio 94-91 at Sleep Train Arena on November 15 and since then, the Spurs have won five straight, while Sacramento is 3-2.
Sacramento’s three-game winning streak was snapped by Houston as the Kings played their second consecutive game without starters Rudy Gay and Darren Collison – both questionable for Friday’s game.
The Kings may be without a third starter vs. San Antonio as DeMarcus Cousins is listed as doubtful due to a virus.
[RELATED: Kings' Cousins doubtful for matchup vs. Spurs]
Sacramento committed 21 total turnovers against Houston which translated into 32 points and led to the loss. In the season’s first meeting between the Kings and the Spurs, Sacramento committed a season-low nine turnovers.
The Kings held the Spurs to 42.5 percent from the floor including 29.2 percent from 3-point range on November 15.
The Kings likely operating without Cousins, Gay and Collison must return to a low-turnover, tenacious defensive type performance with deep bench contributions similar to their 99-89 win in New Orleans on Tuesday if they want to go 2-0 versus the Spurs in this campaign.
MATCHUP TO WATCH:
Ramon Sessions/Ray McCallum vs. Tony Parker.
Sacramento held Tony Parker to 11 points in the win versus San Antonio on November 15 and it will be paramount to keep Parker out of the paint if the Kings have any shot of getting it done likely without three starters.
KEYS TO VICTORY:
1) Limit turnovers – Sacramento must avoid a repeat performance of Wednesday’s ghastly 21 turnovers, which lead to 32 points for the Rockets.
The Kings are 5-1 when committing less than 15 turnovers.
2) Defend - The Kings are allowing 97.9 points in their nine wins and giving up 103.5 points in their six losses.
The Spurs are 5-4 when scoring less than 100 points including Sacramento’s 94-91 win over the reigning NBA champions on November 15 at Sleep Train Arena.
3) Rebound – The Kings are second in the NBA in rebounding and outrebounded San Antonio 42-38 on November 15.
The Spurs are sixth in the league in rebounding and are 7-1 when outrebounding opponents.
Competing on the glass will be key tonight at the AT&T Center.
INJURY UPDATE:
Sacramento – C DeMarcus Cousins (virus) is doubtful while F Rudy Gay (right Achilles tendinitis) and G Darren Collison (left quadriceps contusion) are questionable.
San Antonio – F/C Tiago Splitter (calf) and G Patty Mills (shoulder) are out. G Cory Joseph (sprained left ankle) is questionable.
SERIES HISTORY:
The Kings defeated the Spurs 94-91 at Sleep Train Arena on November 15.
This is the second of four meetings this season between Sacramento and San Antonio.
The Kings were swept 3-0 in 2013-14 by the Spurs and San Antonio leads the overall series, 106-55 including 78-39 in the Sacramento era.
