The Sacramento Kings hit Washington Monday evening looking to wash the sour taste of the Big Apple out of their mouths. Waiting for them are the high-powered Wizards who come in riding a two-game win streak.
Sacramento watched star big man Kristaps Porzingis catch fire in New York on Saturday night. The Latvian-born center posted 34 points in just 27 minutes of action while sitting out the entire fouth quarter of the Knicks blowout win.
Skal Labissiere scored 19 points for Sacramento against New York, but most of those came long after the game was decided. They'll need a stronger effort from all 13 active players on the roster if they hope to slow John Wall, Bradley Beal and Otto Porter.
BETTING LINE
Wizards by 11.5
MATCHUP TO WATCH
Garrett Temple vs. Bradley Beal -- Beal is one of the better pure shooters in the league and he'll square off against a familiar face. Temple spent four seasons in Washington before joining the KIngs last summer. It's an offensive juggernaut versus a 3-and-D wing.
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WHERE THEY STAND
Kings: 3-9, fifth place in Pacific
Wizards: 7-5, second place in Southeast
INJURY REPORT
Kings: F Vince Carter (kidney stones) out, PF Harry Giles (bilateral knee rehab) out.
Wizards: G Sheldon Mac (leg) out.
THREE THINGS TO WATCH
HOW LONG WILL DAVE JOERGER STICK WITH GEORGE HILL -- Sacramento paid big money for Hill in the offseason and the veteran point guard is off to an extremely slow start. De'Aaron Fox is showing improvement on a nightly basis and he's outplayed Hill on most nights. At some point, Hill is either going to have to step up or step aside.
NO OFFENSE -- The Kings are struggling to find consistent performances from almost everyone on the roster so far this season. Their leading scorer averages just 12.8 points per game and he's 36-year-old. Only three players average in double-figures for Sacramento and their 94.8 points per game ranks 29 in the league.
PUSH THE TEMPO -- Despite a roster full of young guys, the Sacramento Kings are 28th in the league in pace at 96.1. They need to get out and stretch their legs a bit, even if that means Zach Randolph gets a piggyback ride up and down the court from Bogdan Bogdanovic.
SERIES HISTORY
Washington swept the season series between the two teams last year and hammered Sacramento 110-83 at Golden 1 Center in late October. The Kings still hold a 104-91 advantage all-time over the Wizards, but Washington leads the series 32-31 during the Sacramento-era.
