Game preview: Phoenix Suns face Sacramento Kings, game time, matchups, betting odds

what: Phoenix Suns (13-6) at Sacramento Kings (10-8)

when: 8:00 PM AZ Time

Where: Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, CA

clock: barry sports arizona

listen: 98.7FM

DraftKings Betting Line: Sands -1, O/U 237.5, Sands Moneyline -115

The Phoenix Suns will face the Sacramento Kings in the first interteam meeting of the season at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. The Suns rank him No. 1 in the Western Conference, while Pacific Division rival Sacramento ranks him No. 6.

The Suns started 16-3, down three games from an 18-game winning streak last season. Starting points His guard Chris Paul has missed the last nine games due to a sore heel, and regular starting forward Cam Johnson has missed the last 11 games due to a torn right meniscus. but Phoenix is ​​still the best in the West.

500 in their first 18 games, their best start since the 2018-19 season. The Kings lost his first four games, but then won eight of his ten games, including a seven-game winning streak.

Since then, Sacramento Atlanta Hawks and the boston celtics on the road.they are 12th NBA.com Power Rankings And we have a chance to end the 16-year playoff drought, the longest in NBA history.

Sacramento leads the stats with sixth-year guard De’Aaron Fox, who is averaging 25.1 points, 6.1 assists, 4.9 rebounds and 1.2 steals in 17 games.

The Kings have five other players averaging double-digit scoring. Starting shooting guard Kevin Harter (15.9 points per game). Backup guard Malik Monk (13.4 points per game). Starting small forward Harrison Barnes (13.1 points per game). Forward Keegan Murray (10.4 points per game).

Below are some of the notable stats for each team provided by: team ranking.

• Points per game: Phoenix (10th, 114.6th), Sacramento (2nd, 119.1st)
• Assists per game: Phoenix (8th, 27.3), Sacramento (5th, 27.7)
• Rebounds per game: Phoenix (14th, 52.3th), Sacramento (25th, 49.9th)
• Average score margin: Phoenix (2nd, +6.9), Sacramento (7th (+2.0))
• Attack efficiency: Phoenix (3rd), Sacramento (2nd)
• Team Shooting Rate: Phoenix (12th, 47.2nd), Sacramento (3rd, 49.1st)
• Effective Field Goal Percentage: Phoenix (13th, 54.0), Sacramento (3rd, 57.1)
• Percentage of 3 points: Phoenix (9th, 37.4th), Sacramento (12th, 36.6th)
• Percentage of 2 points: Phoenix (22nd, 52.7th), Sacramento (1st, 58.8th)
• Blocks per game: Phoenix (6th, 5.9th), Sacramento (30th, 3.0th)
• Turnovers per game: Phoenix (5th, 13.2nd), Sacramento (16th, 15.1st)
• Opponent points per game: Phoenix (7th, 107.7th), Sacramento (27th, 117.1st)
• Opponent Shoot Rate: Phoenix (6th, 45.5th), Sacramento (29th, 49.5th)
• Opponent’s effective field goal percentage: Phoenix (5th, 52.3th), Sacramento (29th, 56.2nd)
• Opponent’s 3-point percentage: Phoenix (27th, 37.6th), Sacramento (29th, 38.6th)
• Opponent’s 2 point percentage: Phoenix (4th, 50.0), Sacramento (21st, 55.3)
• Opponent Total Rebounds Per Game: Phoenix (9th, 50.3), Sacramento (1st, 48.1)

likely starting lineup

sands

G. Cameron Payne

G. Devin Booker

F Mikal Bridge

F. Torrey Craig

C. DeAndre Ayton

kings

G. De’Aaron Fox

G Kevin Harter

F. Harrison Barnes

F. Keegan Murray

F. Domantas Sabonis

out/injured

Phoenix:

• Kam Johnson (right knee) is OUT
• Chris Paul (heel pain) is out
• Jae Crowder (creating a burner account) is not with the team

Sacramento:

uniform match up

courtesy lockervision.nba.com

Things to watch out for

The Suns are facing one of the hottest offensive teams, along with Sacramento, who haven’t dropped below 104 points this season.The Kings had a winning streak and he scored over 130 points brooklyn nets 153-121 15 November and thereafter San Antonio Spurs130-112, 17 November.

Sacramento has a deep team, with every player playing 12.2 minutes or more per game averaging 5.4 or more points. The Kings aren’t big — evidenced by their rebounding numbers and Sabonis being in center — but they pass the ball very well under coach Mike Brown. golden state warriors From 2016 to 2022.

Brown used to cleveland cavaliers While we have time–los angeles lakers Superstar forward LeBron James’ first year with the team from 2005-06 to 2009-10. Brown named him his NBA Coach of the Year in 2009.

With Sacramento expected to be perfectly healthy heading into Sunday’s game, the Suns have a big challenge on defense. , is very difficult to stop. Huerter has played these two well and has a 47.3% shot completion percentage from his 3-point range.

Since this is a divisional game, the Suns and Kings will meet three more times in the regular season.

face to face

The Suns and Pistons have played 241 times in their history dating back to the 1968-69 season. Phoenix has led the series 141-100 the last time, and the team has split the last four meetings.

Keys to Suns Victory

It will be the Suns’ biggest defensive challenge of the season. Fox is a downhill physical guard and a good 3-point shooter (38.9%). He leads the Kings offense and meshes well with Sabonis, who is known for his post-up and passing ability. He ranks first on the Sacramento team with his 6.2 assists per game.

The Suns’ help defense will have to be vigilant on Monday night. Sacramento has several ways to score, including drive-and-kick opportunities, passes from the high post to the cutter, and Fox’s ability to score for himself.

But Sacramento is not a great defensive team. The Sands are able to find Ayton with his back to the basket on a few occasions if he wants to. Phoenix should have an advantage in paint and rebound points for this game. This should limit the Kings’ scoring, assuming they can guard them for the entire length of the shot clock.

Division games are typically highly competitive, so Phoenix and Sacramento get to know each other better about their personnel as a result. The Suns and Kings have had some challenging games in recent history, and Monday is no exception.

predict

Sacramento poses a big threat offensively, but the Suns are better defensively than their current four-game winning streak, holding the team to an average of 103.5 points per game. Considering Phoenix has played five of their last six games at home, it could find a groove and continue it against the Kings.

But the division game is challenging, and Sacramento has been a surprise team this year with a previous winning streak. Phoenix recently utah jazzAs such, it will be difficult to play against Sacramento on the road.

The Suns have a very good chance of winning this game, but it’s hard to pull it all off. The Kings will win very close.

Kings 111, Suns 105

join when the game is over Sands JAM Session Podcast We are discussing the game live on YouTube.