The Kings will be big underdogs when they play the defending NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder in an NBA CUP game Friday at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento.
The Kings will face the Thunder for the second time in 11 days after suffering a 107-101 loss in Oklahoma City on Oct. 28. Reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 31 points for the Thunder while Zach LaVine led the Kings with 23.
The Kings (3-5) are listing Domantas Sabonis as questionable due to a left ribcage contusion. Keegan Murray is still sidelined after undergoing surgery on his left thumb. LaVine is not listed on the injury report after missing Wednesday’s 121-116 victory over the Golden State Warriors due to lower back soreness.
The Thunder (8-1) has Luguentz Dort listed as questionable because of a right upper trap strain. Thomas Sorber (ACL surgery), Nikola Topic (testicular cancer), Aaron Wiggins (left adductor strain), Jalen Williams (right wrist surgery) and Kenrich Williams (left knee surgery) are out.
Here are three keys to Friday’s game.
Get Zach back
The Kings didn’t need LaVine and Sabonis to beat the Warriors with Steph Curry, Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green out of the lineup, but they will need their leading scorer against Oklahoma City.
LaVine is averaging 27.4 points per game, matching his career high from 2020-21. He is shooting a career-high 51.6% from the field, 38.3% from 3-point range and a career-best 92.9% at the free-throw line.
Learn from last time
The Kings have to do a better job of protecting the paint than they did in their first game against the Thunder.
Oklahoma City amassed a huge 52-34 advantage on points in the paint while outscoring Sacramento 15-7 in second-chance points. The Thunder blocked 10 shots despite the absence of 7-foot-1 center Chet Holmgren, who was out with a back injury.
Take care of the ball
The Kings played the Thunder pretty evenly in terms of shooting and rebounding the first time they faced each other, but they were outscored 27-18 in points off turnovers.
Oklahoma City leads the league in points off turnovers with 24.9 per game. The Thunder ranks fifth in opponent points off turnovers (16.2).
Thunder at Kings
When: 7 p.m.
Where: Golden 1 Center
TV: NBC Sports California
Radio: Sactown Sports 1140
Odds: Thunder -10.5
Over/under: 231.5
Injury report
Thunder: QUESTIONABLE — Luguentz Dort (trap). OUT — Thomas Sorber (ACL); Nikola Topic (testicular cancer); Aaron Wiggins (adductor); Jalen Williams (wrist); Kenrich Williams (knee).
Kings: QUESTIONABLE — Domantas Sabonis (ribs). OUT — Dylan Cardwell (G League); Keegan Murray (thumb); Daeqwon Plowden (G League); Isaiah Stevens (G League).
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