A Royal Pain
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Game Preview: Sacramento Kings Look for Revenge Against the Minnesota Timberwolves

By Hunter Robinson

Mar 30, 2016; Sacramento, CA, USA; Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins (15) holds up his finger after a foul against the Washington Wizards during the third quarter at Sleep Train Arena. The Sacramento Kings defeated the Washington Wizards 120-111. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 30, 2016; Sacramento, CA, USA; Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins (15) holds up his finger after a foul against the Washington Wizards during the third quarter at Sleep Train Arena. The Sacramento Kings defeated the Washington Wizards 120-111. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /
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The last time the Sacramento Kings (31-47) played the Minnesota Timberwolves (26-52) it was a must-win game to keep their playoff hopes alive. This time around these two teams will be playing for nothing more than finishing this season out on a positive note, something both teams would like to do as they look ahead to bright futures.

Minnesota has won all three of the match-ups between these two teams so far and the Kings will be looking to avoid being swept as they play their second to last game at Sleep Train Arena. For the Kings to come out victorious they need to follow these keys to the game.

Keys to the game:

  Let the young guys go at it

With this game not having any playoff implications you have to believe that George Karl will continue to give his younger players more playing time than they saw earlier in the season. The Timberwolves are built around two great young players in Karl Anthony-Towns and Andrew Wiggins, who are two fun players to watch as they progress in their young careers.

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If the Kings play their younger guys then we could see a Karl Anthony-Towns against Willie Cauley-Stein matchup, which would be nothing but fun to watch.

The Kings are now also starting to reap the benefits of having a Curry on the team as Seth Curry has grown into the role that most hoped he would have this season averaging 15.3 points in the last 10 games and an impressive 45% from three-point range for the season. Cauley-Stein and Curry could be two unsung heroes if the Kings win tonight.

            Unleash Boogie

The Timberwolves came out victorious against the Kings on March 23rd, now what if I told you that DeMarcus Cousins was out that game with a bruised knee? If you aren’t smiling right now, then you must not have watched the season that DeMarcus Cousins has put together for himself.

He is the heart and soul of the Sacramento Kings, no doubt about it. Cousins is averaging 27.1 points per game this season to go along with 11.6 rebounds per game. If the Kings would have had DeMarcus Cousins on March 23rd then maybe the outcome would have been different.

Cousins is one of the few players in the NBA that can impact the game solely with his presence. The Timberwolves got away without having to face DeMarcus last time, they won’t be so fortunate this time around.

The Kings need to focus on playing team basketball

Ever since the Kings were eliminated from playoff contention, or at least they were eliminated in their minds, they seem to be playing better team basketball. The Kings have been a team these past two weeks that makes you shake your head in disappointment for what it could have been if the Kings played like this earlier in the season.

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They pass the ball better, they take smarter shots, and sometimes they even play better defense. Now that the bench has started to inherit minutes from the starters this team seems to not get burnt out so quickly and they seem to enjoy playing basketball.

This is something that the Kings need to build on going forward regardless of the coaching situation at the end of the season. Team basketball is a key to success short-term and long-term.

Prediction:

The Kings should be able to get the win tonight. I am expecting Seth Curry to continue the great performance that he has had over the past 10 games and I foresee DeMarcus Cousins having a field day with the young and inexperienced frontcourt of the Timberwolves.

The Kings will be 32-47 after tonight’s game.

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