Since returning from the All Star break, the Sacramento Kings have looked solid. Right out of the gate they faced two playoff teams in the Memphis Grizzlies and Los Angeles Clippers and came out with wins in each game.
Although the Kings let the Grizzlies get back into the game on Thursday night, they still came out with the W and then handled the Clippers two days later in an early afternoon game on Saturday.
The defense has looked phenomenal for the most part, aside from the late game comeback by the Grizzlies, posting a 98.1 defensive rating against the now 38-19 Clippers.
Not only has the defense stepped up, but the team has looked to be playing more cohesively, feeding off each other’s strengths. It’s a great sight to see and it’s only keeping the embers of playoff hopes burning.
Coming off these back to back wins, it’s important to note that Sacramento ends the season with the seventh easiest schedule in the NBA. With that, the Kings look to stay undefeated since the break against the Warriors on the road tonight.
Since Golden State has acquired Andrew Wiggins at the trade deadline, the team has yet to win despite the strong play out of the 24 year old. Sacramento looks to keep up this trend and deliver Wiggins his sixth straight loss as a Warrior.
This will be a big win for the Kings as the Clippers took down Memphis last night, leaving the Kings only 4.5 games out of the eighth and final playoff seed.
With Sacramento facing off against the Grizzlies once again on this coming Friday night, the Kings have an opportunity to slowly climb their way up the standings, but to do so they will have to make the most out of every opportunity.
It’s all one step at a time, thus Luke Walton and his squad need to focus on tonight’s game and take care of the bottom dwelling Warriors, a task that shouldn’t be too hard given their play as of late, winning 8 out of their last 12.
It ain’t over ‘til it’s over, and even when fans think the season is finished, the Kings keep showing us that they’re still alive, even if they’re hanging by a thread.
It will be an important week of basketball for the team and it all starts tonight with what should be an easy win against Golden State.
