Just past the halfway mark of the season, the Sacramento Kings find themselves in a rut that’s becoming all too familiar. They're currently riding their third losing streak of at least seven games - a tough pill to swallow for a team that entered the season hoping to take a step forward.
The silver lining? If you can call it that, they’re tied with the New Orleans Pelicans for the NBA’s worst record.
That’s not exactly the kind of leaderboard you want to be climbing.
Matchup:
Sacramento Kings (12-37) at Boston Celtics (29-18)
Location: TD Garden, Boston, MA
Time: 4:30 PM PT / 7:30 PM ET
Watch: NBC Sports California / League Pass
Last night, Sacramento showed some fight in Philadelphia. They went toe-to-toe with the Sixers and nearly snapped the skid, but Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid took over late and slammed the door shut. Now, the Kings face the unenviable task of playing the second half of a back-to-back - on the road, no less - against a Celtics team that’s been one of the league’s most consistent forces this season.
Boston comes into this matchup tied for second in the Eastern Conference, and they’ve managed to stay near the top despite stretches without their superstar, Jayson Tatum. A big reason for that has been Jaylen Brown, who’s putting together a career year with 29.4 points per game. But Brown won’t be suiting up tonight - he’s out with a hamstring injury, which is a significant blow to Boston’s offense, currently ranked second in the NBA.
The Kings, meanwhile, continue to be plagued by injuries and roster shuffling. Malik Monk, who missed last night’s game in Philly with an ankle issue, might be available tonight - a much-needed boost for Sacramento’s offense.
But they’ll be without Domantas Sabonis, who’s getting a night off to rest his knee. That’s a major absence, considering how much of the Kings’ offense flows through his playmaking and interior presence.
Keegan Murray remains sidelined as well, still recovering from an ankle sprain that’s now stretching into its fourth week.
Without Sabonis and Murray, Sacramento’s already struggling offense faces an uphill battle. The Kings rank dead last in both three-pointers made and attempted - a tough stat to stomach in today’s perimeter-heavy NBA.
On the other side, Boston is among the league’s most prolific from deep, ranking second in both makes and attempts. Even without Brown, the Celtics can still stretch the floor and punish teams from beyond the arc, with Derrick White, Payton Pritchard, and Anfernee Simons likely stepping into bigger roles.
This is a tall order for a Kings squad that’s not just banged up, but also searching for an identity in the midst of another extended slump. Playing in Boston, on the second night of a back-to-back, without your All-Star big man? That’s a tough ask for any team - let alone one that’s trying to snap a seven-game skid.
The Kings have shown flashes of resilience, but if they’re going to pull off an upset tonight, they’ll need a near-perfect performance - and maybe a little help from the basketball gods.