SACRAMENTO -- The Sacramento Kings return to the court on Saturday evening to take on the champs. The Kings are coming off a wild 118-115 victory Thursday night over the Los Angeles Lakers and they sit just a half game out of the eight spot in the Western Conference.
DeMarcus Cousins continues to roll in January, averaging 32.3 points and 13.8 rebounds on 53.6 percent shooting since the calendar turned the new year. He has played only part of one game against the Warriors this season due to injury and ejection and would love nothing more than to have a big night against the best team in basketball.
Golden State played in Portland Friday night, coming away with a 128-108 victory over the Blazers. In the first three matchups between these two teams this season, it was the Kings playing on the second night of a back-to-back. Saturday in Sacramento, the shoe will be on the other foot.
LINE
Warriors by 7.5
MATCHUP TO WATCH
Kings shooting guards vs. Klay Thompson -- The Kings will throw the kitchen sink at the Warriors backcourt trying to slow them down. Ben McLemore will likely start, but George Karl has turned to Marco Belinelli, Darren Collison, James Anderson and Seth Curry at the position as well. They draw a red hot Klay Thompson tonight at Sleep Train Arena. The All-Star guard has posted 30 points or more in each of his last three games and he’s shooting 57.8 percent (19-of-33) from long range over that stretch.
WHERE THEY STAND
Kings: 15-21, third place in Pacific
Warriors: 34-2, first place in Pacific
INJURY REPORT
Kings: F Omri Casspi (upper back soreness) was at practice on Friday, but is out with upper back soreness. F-C Willie Cauley-Stein (right middle finger) worked with the team on Friday, and is listed as probable.
Warriors: No injuries to report.
SERIES HISTORY
The Warriors own a 3-0 advantage on the Kings this season, including a 122-103 smackdown in Oakland on Dec. 28. Golden State leads the all-time series 196-185 and holds a 68-64 in the SAcramento-era.
QUOTABLE
“I’m a big believer that it’s not the team that is good in November that’s important, it’s the team that constantly improves and come March, can play a top notch brand of basketball.” -George Karl
