A Royal Pain
Fansided

Sacramento Kings Travel To Utah, Looking To Avoid 0-3 Start

By Anthony Cardenas

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - OCTOBER 14: Bogdan Bogdanovic #8 of the Sacramento Kings drives around Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz in a preseason game at Vivint Smart Home Arena on October 14, 2019 in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - OCTOBER 14: Bogdan Bogdanovic #8 of the Sacramento Kings drives around Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz in a preseason game at Vivint Smart Home Arena on October 14, 2019 in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

The Sacramento Kings are looking to avoid a tough 0-3 start and will travel to Utah tonight and take on the Jazz.

Both the Sacramento Kings and Utah Jazz will be on the second game of a back-to-back tonight as the two teams meet in Salt Lake City.

The Kings played their home opener last night, suffering a defeat at the hands of Damian Lillard and the Portland Trail Blazers. The loss dropped the Kings to 0-2, who are off to a rocky start in their first season with expectations in over a decade. A surprise win against the Jazz tonight would do wonders for the team’s confidence and psyche.

The Jazz are 1-1 on the season, after suffering a tough loss to the Lakers in Los Angeles on Friday night. Third-year player Donovan Mitchell is off to a hot start and has averaged 28 points per game over the first two contests.

Tonight’s game will be the first of two contests between the Kings and the Jazz in less than a week’s time, as Sacramento will play host next Friday.

Here’s what you need to know about tonight’s contest:

Tip-off: 6:00 PM PT
Radio: 1140 KHTK
Watch: NBC Sports California, or stream live on Fubo.tv

Betting Info: Utah is favored by a whopping nine points, and some outlets are reporting the number being as high as 9.5. The over/under is 221. (Courtesy of The Action Network)

Injury Report:

Kings:

De’Aaron Fox – Questionable (hip)

Harry Giles – Out (knee)

Jazz:

Bojan Bogdanovic – Questionable (ankle)

Dante Exum – Questionable (knee)

Last 5 Meetings:

4/5/19 – Jazz 119, Kings 98

11/25/18 – Jazz 133, Kings 112

11/21/18 – Kings 119, Jazz 110

10/17/18 – Jazz 123, Kings 117

3/17/18 – Jazz 103, Kings 97

Matchup To Watch:

The Kings have struggled mightily in competing against big centers so far this year. Both Deandre Ayton and Hassan Whiteside have had field days against Sacramento’s interior defenders. While Jazz center Rudy Gobert has been somewhat statistically underwhelming so far and is not known for his offensive prowess, he could still make it a long night for Dewayne Dedmon and company with his length. Keep an eye on the interior, as this game will be won or lost in the trenches.

Bogdanovic Should Be A Starter. dark. Next

Prediction:

The Kings are hungry for a win, but tonight might not be the night. Utah will beat Sacramento and send them to an ugly 0-3 start.

Jazz 104, Kings 99

Home/Kings News