Game Preview: Sacramento Kings Get Chance at Revenge Against Pelicans

By Gabe Callahan | Jan 28, 2016

Nov 25, 2014; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) and Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins (15) scramble for a loose ball during the second half of a game at Smoothie King Center. The Kings defeated the Pelicans 99-89. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /

Tonight the Sacramento Kings have a chance to march into Smoothie King Center and get a win against the New Orleans Pelicans. The Pelicans could be depleted with injuries, which will be a big factor. But the Kings will take a win any way they can to regain the eighth playoff spot.

The Kings have lost two in a row and they would love to get some revenge against the Pelicans who beat them in their last match-up at Sleep Train, 109-97. The Pelicans have been on a roll lately, winning three of their last four.

Anthony Davis is a big reason for New Orleans’ latest wins. But Davis is questionable to play after sustaining a concussion in a loss to Houston on Monday. Shooting guard Eric Gordon, who scorched the Kings last time, is out with a broken finger. Tyreke Evans, who usually plays well against his former team, is also listed as questionable with right knee tendinitis.

More from Kings News

Davis has missed five games this season, and the Pelicans have lost all five of those games. The Pelicans big man has averaged 22.9 points, 10.2 rebounds and 2.4 blocks this season.

This is all in Sacramento’s favor. Getting a win in the Big Easy tonight is well within their grasp. The Kings have played well on the road this season. DeMarcus Cousins has been having a monster January, averaging over 34 points and 14 rebounds a game. Sacramento have the playoffs in their sights and have been playing motivated. They should win this one.

But the Kings have also lost games this season they should have won (cough, 76ers, cough).

Rudy Gay will miss a second game in the row with a “left eye corneal abrasion” he received in Monday’s game against Charlotte. Opposing teams have continued to scorch the Kings from the three-point-line. Other teams’ 6th-man always seem to score a career high against Sacramento. The Kings have shown an ability to quickly go up by 17 points. And they have also shown an ability to blow that lead even faster.

There are, as usual, three keys to the game for a Kings win.

Perimeter Defense- Like I have said before, until they actually start playing perimeter defense, it will be a permanent key to the game for the Kings. If Rajon Rondo is getting burned by a quicker guards, if Darren Collinson is being killed by screens, if Ben McLemore is not where he’s supposed to be…Then Coach George Karl needs to let Seth Curry have a shot. Get Willie Cauley-Stein out there on the bigger guards. Do something.
Scorers Need To Score- With Gay out, the Kings need to make up for the absence of their second scoring option. Ben McLemore has shown to be more aggressive when they need him to be. He just needs to hit open shots. Marco Belinelli had a good night of shooting in the last game at Portland, but he’s been cold from beyond the arc this month. The Kings second unit seems to struggle offensively without Gay in the lineup. And they need someone to step up and make shots.
Don’t Let Ryan Anderson Get Hot- If the Pelican’s main scorers are out, their bench will have to step up. And Ryan Anderson has the ability to put up some points. They need to make sure that Anderson, or whoever else, does not have a career scoring night. But against the Kings, they totally could. Which is maddening.

More from A Royal Pain

The Kings are going to win tonight. I can see it. They just have to not do all the careless things have been doing all season long. Simple, right?

Home/Kings News