Game #4: at Chicago Bulls (12/10)
The Kings have to have this one.
Even if they slip up and get upset by the Suns or the Cavs, next Monday’s game is a must-win for the Kings. The Bulls are in a rough spot, having just fired their head coach and with a roster lacking major talent. To give an idea, Ryan Arcidiacono is a starter.
By the time Monday rolls around, Chicago will be out of their “Win one for the Gipper/new coach” phase and hopefully back to their losing ways.
For the Kings, it is their last game of an important four-game road trip. This is one of the softer spots of their schedule and they are relatively healthy. Beating the Bulls would mean a happy 4 1/2-hour flight back home. It would give a burst of confidence to a young team coming home to play big games against the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Golden State Warriors.
But mostly, a win in Chicago would mean a 2-2 road trip (at worst), which would keep the Kings at 13-13, a record which every single Kings fan would be happy with.