Kings vs. Pistons: Three Storylines to Watch as Sacramento Hosts the East-Leading Pistons
The Sacramento Kings are back home Tuesday night, and they’re in for a serious test. The Detroit Pistons - one of the hottest teams in the NBA - are coming to town, and while the records suggest a mismatch on paper, there’s more to this matchup than meets the eye.
Sacramento (7-22) may be sitting at the bottom of the Western Conference standings, but they’re coming off a gritty 125-124 overtime win over the Houston Rockets that snapped a five-game skid. It was the kind of win that can spark something - especially for a team that’s been battling injuries and trying to find its rhythm.
Detroit (23-6), meanwhile, is riding high. They’ve won six of their last seven and are leading the Eastern Conference by 2.5 games. Even on the second night of a back-to-back after a solid 110-102 win over Portland, the Pistons are a tough out for anyone right now.
Here are three key storylines to keep an eye on when the Kings and Pistons tip off at Golden 1 Center.
1. Cade Cunningham Is Playing Like an MVP
Cade Cunningham is starting to look like the kind of player you build a franchise around - and then some.
The former No. 1 overall pick is in the middle of a breakout campaign, putting up career-best numbers across the board: 27.0 points, 6.4 rebounds, 9.2 assists, and 1.4 steals per game. This isn’t just volume - it’s impact. He’s been the engine behind Detroit’s rise to the top of the East.
Cunningham already has three triple-doubles this season, including a 39-13-11 performance against Orlando and a monster 46-12-11 night against Washington. He’s reading defenses like a seasoned vet and scoring at all three levels. The Kings’ depleted frontcourt and thin backcourt depth will have their hands full trying to contain him.
2. What’s Going on with Malik Monk?
Malik Monk’s situation in Sacramento has become one of the more curious storylines in the league.
After finishing as the runner-up for Sixth Man of the Year last season, Monk has suddenly found himself on the outside looking in. He didn’t see the floor in back-to-back losses to Portland, and while he got a brief five-minute run in Sunday’s win over Houston - greeted by a loud ovation from the home crowd - his role remains uncertain.
Head coach Doug Christie has said the decision is about rotation fit, calling Monk the “odd man out” as he gives more minutes to Keon Ellis. But Monk himself admitted he’s “1,000%” confused by the change.
Monk’s scoring punch and playmaking off the bench were huge for the Kings last season. If Sacramento wants to get back to winning consistently - especially while dealing with key injuries - finding a way to re-integrate Monk could be crucial.
3. Short-Handed Kings Still Showing Fight
The Kings aren’t healthy, and that’s no secret.
Zach LaVine (ankle), Domantas Sabonis (knee), and Drew Eubanks (thumb) are all out. Devin Carter (ankle) and Doug McDermott (knee) are listed as questionable. That’s a lot of firepower sitting on the bench - or in street clothes.
But despite the injuries, Sacramento has shown some real grit over the last three games. They fought hard in two close losses to the Blazers and finally broke through with that overtime win over Houston. It wasn’t perfect, but it showed this team isn’t quitting.
Without Sabonis anchoring the paint or LaVine creating on the wing, the Kings have had to lean on younger players and role guys to step up. That kind of adversity can either sink a team or build some resilience. Tuesday night will be another chance to see which direction they’re headed.
Tip-Off Info:
- When: Tuesday, 7:00 p.m. PT
- Where: Golden 1 Center, Sacramento
- TV: NBC Sports California
- Radio: Sactown Sports 1140
- Odds: Pistons -8.5
- Over/Under: 227.5
Injury Report (Kings):
- Questionable: Devin Carter (ankle), Doug McDermott (knee)
- Out: Drew Eubanks (thumb), Zach LaVine (ankle), Domantas Sabonis (knee), Daeqwon Plowden (G League), Isaiah Stevens (G League)
The Kings may be underdogs in this one, but if they can bring the same energy they showed against Houston - and if Monk gets a real shot to contribute - they’ve got a chance to make things interesting against a top-tier Pistons squad. One thing’s for sure: Sacramento’s not going down without a fight.