After an exhilarating win in Miami on Thursday, the Sacramento Kings are riding a two-game win streak and are well rested coming into Sunday's match up against the San Antonio Spurs.
Fox was the hero of the night against the Heat, but it took a team effort to get the W. Buddy hield caught fire in the second half to finish with 24 points and Garrett Temple's defense on the final possession sealed the deal.
The Spurs are celebrating coach Gregg Popovich's 69th birthday on Sunday. The famed coach has his team in prime position to strike come playoff time, but the injury bug continues to plague the perennial contender.
BETTING LINE
Spurs by 11
MATCHUP TO WATCH
De'Aaron Fox vs. Dejounte Murray -- Fox is coming off his second game-winner of his rookie season and is playing a lot more aggressive in 2018. He's showing flashes of being a high-end two-way player, but needs to continue to build. Murray has taken over in the starting unit for Tony Parker and his numbers have gone up slightly. He turns the ball over a ton and doesn't shoot well from the perimeter. If Fox goes in attack mode, Murray might be in for a long night.
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WHERE THEY STAND
Kings: 15-33, fifth place in Pacific
Spurs: 32-19, second place in Southwest
INJURY REPORT
Kings: C Willie Cauley-Stein (knee) out, PG Frank Mason (heel) out, Skal Labissiere (shoulder) out, Garrett Temple (ankle) out, Malachi Richardson (ankle) out. PF Harry Giles (bilateral knee rehab) out for the season.
JaKarr Sampson was flown in to help fill the roster. Looks like 10 bodies in uniform for Sacramento.— James Ham (@James_HamNBCS) January 28, 2018
Spurs: SG Manu Ginobili (thigh) questionable, SF Kawhi Leonard (shoulder) out, SF Rudy Gay (heel) out.
THREE THINGS TO WATCH
Use the Momentum -- The Kings are coming off back-to-back wins, including the team's first victory in Miami since 2001. The Spurs are as tough an opponent as you are going to find, but if Sacramento comes out and plays the style of defense they showed against the Magic and Heat, they have a chance.
Replacing Willie -- Cauley-Stein is having a very nice season for Sacramento, but he'll miss a minimum of two games with a bone bruise in his right knee. Skal Labissiere and Kosta Koufos will likely fill in for the 7-footer, but Georgios Papagiannis might want to be ready as well.
Find Davis Bertans -- The Latvian stretch four dropped 28 points on the Kings last time these two teams met, including an impressive 6-of-9 from behind the arc. It was the lone 20-point performance for the 6-foot-10 forward this season. If Sacramento leaves him open, he'll burn them.
SERIES HISTORY
The Spurs are up 2-0 in the season series and currently own a 12-game win streak over the Kings. San Antonio holds an 890-39 lead during the Sacramento-era and a 118-55 advantage all-time.
