After dropping their fourth straight game Friday night in Memphis, the Sacramento Kings are now just 2-9 over their previous 11 games. They draw the Chicago Bulls on Saturday evening that also lost the night before and have been struggling of late. It's a battle of the back-to-backs at the United Center.
Sacramento is adjusting to life without second leading scorer Rudy Gay, who is out for the remainder of the season with a ruptured Achilles. Arron Afflalo started in Gay's place against Memphis and scored just five points and grabbed two rebounds in 25 minutes of action. The Kings need someone to step forward at the small forward position or this eight game road trip is going to get ugly.
Chicago has been a Jekyll and Hyde team all season long. They have plenty of talent, but they can't seem to find a way to put it all together. They currently sit in the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference playoff race, but they are 2-5 over their last seven contests.
LINE
Bulls by 5.5
WHERE THEY STAND
Sports
Kings: 16-26, third place in Pacific
Bulls: 21-23, third place in Central
MATCHUP TO WATCH
Garrett Temple vs. Dwyane Wade -- Temple has been a nice addition for Sacramento, playing minutes at the one, two and three this season for coach Dave Joerger. Temple started at the shooting guard spot against the Grizzlies on Friday night and will likely do the same on Saturday against Wade and the Bulls. Wade isn't the same player he once was, but the 12-time All-Star can still score in bunches and give the Bulls a much needed second option alongside Jimmy Butler.
INJURY REPORT
Kings: SF Rudy (left Achilles tendon) out for the season, SF Omri Casspi (calf strain) out.
Bulls: No injuries to report.
SERIES HISTORY
The Bulls swept the season-series 2-0 last year, including a 109-102 win over Sacramento on March 21. Chicago holds an 80-75 advantage over the Kings all-time and a 33-28 lead during the Sacramento-era.
