Programming note: Pacers-Kings coverage starts tonight at 6:30 p.m. with Kings Pregame Live on Comcast SportsNet California (territory restrictions apply) Channel locations
The Kings (9-9) face the Pacers (7-12) looking to snap a four-game losing streak as they play their fourth straight game without DeMarcus Cousins, who is out with a viral infection.
Indiana comes to Sacramento on the second of a back-to-back, after falling 88-82 to the Blazers in Portland on Thursday.
Indiana has lost the first three games of the road trip and have now dropped four of its last five games. California’s capital city is the last stop on a four-game road trip for Indiana.
BETTING LINE:
Sacramento by 2
MATCHUP TO WATCH:
Jason Thompson vs. David West: Thompson has held Blake Griffin to 17 points and Anthony Davis to 14 points in Kings wins over the Clippers and Pelicans, respectively. Can he lock down West?
[RELATED: Kings strive for new first: To win without Cousins]
HERENDA’S AGENDA:
1. Rebound – Sacramento leads the NBA in rebound margin but won't have Cousins, the league’s best rebounder. Meanwhile, the Pacers are +12 in rebound margin in their wins and the second best rebounding team in the NBA.
2. Run – If Sacramento controls the glass, fast break points may enable the Kings to score against a stingy Pacers defense that allows only 96 points per game.
3. Resilience – Regardless of opponent the Kings must bring it for 48 minutes, especially without Cousins.
INJURY UPDATE:
Kings – C DeMarcus Cousins (viral infection) is out.
Pacers – G George Hill (left knee contusion) and F Paul George (fractured right tibia/fibula) are out.
SERIES HISTORY:
This is the first of two meetings this season between the Kings and Pacers this season. Indiana swept last season’s series.
However, Indiana needed overtime to put away the Kings who were without DeMarcus Cousins and Rudy Gay due to injury at Sleep Train Arena, 116-111 in the second and final meeting.
The Pacers lead the overall series 44-35 including 33-22 in the Sacramento era.
QUOTABLE:
Kings coach Michael Malone: “Regardless of who you play, if you’ve lost four in a row, you should do whatever it takes by an means necessary to get a win.”
“I don’t see that right now...I see guys, ‘When is DeMarcus coming back? and ‘We’ll be ok.’ No. That’s not how it works.”
