On Friday, the NBA announced the schedule for the highly anticipated continuation of the season on July 31st. This gave fans a glimpse of how their team might fare in the eight game finale of basketball’s regular season.
With the Kings 3.5 games back of the eighth seed, they need to stay within at least 4 games of that eighth seed to have a chance of clinching a playoff berth.
Let’s take a look at their eight-game schedule and see how they might finish off the season:
Friday, July 31, 2020
Sacramento Kings vs San Antonio Spurs
Prediction: One can never count out the Spurs, but now they are without LaMarcus Aldridge and the Kings can take advantage of a short-handed team.
Result: Kings win
Sunday, August 2, 2020
Sacramento Kings vs Orlando Magic
Prediction: After losing a nail biter last time around with Orlando, the hungry Kings play with more intensity than a Magic team that holds a comfortable lead in the Eastern Conference’s eighth seed, and thus Orlando doesn’t take advantage of playing in their city.
Result: Kings win
Tuesday, August 4, 2020
Sacramento Kings vs Dallas Mavericks
Prediction: It is well documented that the Kings have trouble stopping superstar, Luka Doncic.
Result: Kings lose
Thursday, August 6, 2020
Sacramento Kings vs New Orleans Pelicans
Prediction: The anticipation surrounding the canceled game just before the NBA suspension was massive. Despite the mutually invigorating environment, Zion Williamson and other young stars are too much to handle for Sacramento.
Result: Kings lose
Friday, August 7, 2020
Sacramento Kings vs Brooklyn Nets
Prediction: Fearing they might lose their third straight, the Kings come out playing hard against a drama-filled, Kyrie-led Brooklyn team.
Result: Kings win
Sunday, August 9, 2020
Sacramento Kings vs Houston Rockets
Prediction: The Kings can’t pull off another miracle against Houston. Harden, and Westbrook breeze by Sacramento.
Result: Kings lose
Tuesday, August 11, 2020
Sacramento Kings vs New Orleans Pelicans
Prediction: The Kings get their revenge against New Orleans after already losing to them in Orlando.
Result: Kings win
Thursday, August 13, 2020
Sacramento Kings vs Los Angeles Lakers
Prediction: Already clinching the number one seed, the Lakers give their stars a rest because of the hefty amount of basketball they will be playing over the next year.
Result: Kings win
There you have it, a 5-3 record if the season’s continuation plays out as predicted. A winning record could easily put them in contention for the play-in game but a 5-3 record probably won’t be enough to overtake the eighth seed.
Anything could happen though, and there are several other teams vying for that last and final playoff spot. The Kings need to be in ninth place at least while remaining four games out of that eighth seed. Analyzing predictions, it seems thoroughly possible.
July 31st can’t come any faster and hopefully Alex Len, Buddy Hield, and Jabari Parker are healthy and ready by then to help push Sacramento to their first playoff berth since 2006.
