A 46-39 report final season was simply ok in a deep Western Convention to internet the Sacramento Kings the ninth seed and a berth within the Play-In Match. They’re nonetheless led by De’Aron Fox and Domantis Sabonis, however injected an additional dose of management and playmaking within the low season with the addition of former Spur DeMar DeRozan to their squad. Whereas nobody is choosing them as a possible Finals group, there’s nonetheless different packing containers for them to test as their two finest gamers enter their prime, together with a shot at Sacramento first 50-win season.
In the meantime for the Spurs, tonight is the third recreation of a 5-game homestand for them that wraps up Friday. Devin Vassell seemed sharp in his long-awaited season debut Saturday night time within the loss to the Utah Jazz. His return for this homestretch is good for a Spurs group that has struggled to seek out offense within the early going this season. Whereas it’s unlikely they are going to attain wherever near Sacramento win complete from final yr if that’s the bar for a play-in spot, Vassell, Victor Wembanyama, and the Spurs have loads of their very own packing containers to test off.
San Antonio Spurs (4-7) vs Sacramento Kings (5-5)
November eleventh 2024 | 7:00 PM CT
Watch: | Hear: WOAI (1200 AM)
Spurs Accidents: Tre Jones, ankle (OUT), Jeremy Sochan, thumb (OUT), Malaki Branham, ankle (day after day)
Kings Accidents: None
What to look at for
– Between De’Aaron Fox and DeMar DeRozan, Sacramento has final season’s prime two 4th quarter scorers of their beginning lineup. How that dynamic between two gamers who can do extraordinary issues with the ball of their arms will play out all through the season stays to be seen, however the addition of DeRozan provides Fox somebody who can create for himself out on the perimeter that takes among the onus off himself down the stretch of shut video games. The 2 play completely different types of offense, however they share a weak spot in terms of exterior capturing. DeRozan has notoriously been averse to the three for his profession, whereas Fox, who had his finest yr capturing the three final season, has by no means been shy about letting it fly. Therein might lie the muse of San Antonio’s defensive recreation plan tonight.
It’s been an up and down season for Victor Wembanyama so far as capturing the basketball goes, as he’s hitting simply 43% of his pictures and 29% of his 3-pointers. The lengthy ball has been particularily regarding, and though Wemby did make 6 of his 9 makes an attempt from the 3-point line within the loss to Utah, there’s been murmurs from the peanut gallery (i.e. us Web coaches!) that the 7+ footer settles for the lengthy ball far too usually and doesn’t actually put the kind of stress on opposing defenses that followers kind of anticipate from a participant his measurement. His 3-point makes an attempt are up this yr (from 5.5 final yr to 7.1) on a lesser share whereas his free throw makes an attempt are down (5.2 final yr, 3.6 this yr). With Vassell coming again and hopefully opening up the courtroom somewhat bit extra, maybe Victor begins to convey these numbers extra consistent with final yr’s.
Not many gamers can refill the stat sheet the way in which Domantas Sabonis can. The ninth yr large man, who led the NBA with 77 doubles final season and 26 triple doubles, marks that put him in historic classes, changing into simply the seventh participant to amass 77 double-doubles and the primary since Moses Malone all the way in which again within the 1978-1979 season. Sabonis performs with an power that few can match, however his defensive deficiencies are a priority. With Sabonis doubtless matching up on Wemby, perhaps this can be a recreation then the place Wembanyama can dominate on the within?
Spurs rookie Stephon Fortress had his finest scoring recreation as a professional within the loss to the Jazz, notching a career-high 23 factors. The efficiency additionally included probably the most 3s taken and made in a recreation for him in his younger profession, with a mark of three/7 past the arc. The 6’5, 210 pound guard is able to comfortably enjoying 3 positions, so flashes like Saturday night time level to somebody who may very well be a beneficial piece for San Antonio in the long term. With Vassell coming off the bench in his first recreation again, the potential for Fortress to stay within the beginning lineup for at the very least a bit longer is fairly excessive.
After going 6 straight video games of double digit scoring, Chris Paul has now failed to achieve double digits in every of the Spurs’ final 3 video games, going 0/6 and scoring his solely 3 factors on the foul line within the 1-point loss to the Jazz. Right here’s to hoping he could make some pictures tonight, although the Kings have performed stable protection to start out this season.
For the Kings fan’s perspective, take a look at The King’s Herald.
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