Sacramento Kings: Game 76 Preview at New Orleans Pelicans
By Tyler Watts
What to Watch for Tonight
Reverse Revenge Game Narrative
Most of the stories will revolve around DeMarcus Cousins facing his former team, but there will be three current Kings returning to their previous home arena from that trade. Buddy Hield, Tyreke Evans and Langston Galloway all started the season with Pelicans before the big deal.
Hield was drafted by the Pelicans just this offseason and he did not play particularly well in New Orleans. Throw in the fact that he is coming off his worst game as a King and I expect Buddy Hield to have a big performance tonight.
This is the first of a back-to-back for the Kings, but I expect Tyreke Evans to play tonight against his former team. Mister Evans has, also, played poorly by his standards in recent games. Hopefully facing his former team allows him to bounce back tonight.
Guessing the Rest Game
The Sacramento Kings do not tip their hand as to who they are resting in any game, but I will once again make some educated guesses at who draws the tags tonight.
MUST READ: Are the Kings a Team With a Future Without DeMarcus Cousins?
First, I believe the Kings will want to play all three players they received in the trade from New Orleans relatively big minutes tonight. That puts the remaining guard minutes in a crunch. I suspect Afflalo remains out and they rest both Ty Lawson and Ben McLemore. That leaves Darren Collison, the returning Garrett Temple, and the three former Pelicans to eat up the minutes.
To clear space in the frontcourt, I believe Anthony Tolliver sits out tonight. I think Kosta Koufos returns and the Kings want to give minutes to Skal Labissiere, Georgios Papagiannis, and Willie Cauley-Stein, so they need to open up minutes and it appears to be Tolliver’s turn to rest.
These are just educated guesses, so I could be proven completely wrong. With that said, please be sure to check before tonight’s contest tips off.