In desperate need of a win, the Sacramento Kings return home Monday evening to face the Los Angeles Lakers at Golden 1 Center. Sacramento has lost two straight and five of their last six, but they face a Lakers team that is 10-16 after losing their previous six.
Dave Joerger continues to tinker with his rotations for Sacramento. Ben McLemore has started the previous three games after sitting the three games before that as a healthy scratch. The 23-year-old guard has struggled with his shot during the latest stretch of starts, going 7-of-23 (30.4 percent) from the field, including an 0-for-5 night against the Jazz on Saturday.
The Lakers are playing the second night of a back-to-back after losing to the New York Knicks on Sunday. Before their current downturn, they were one of the feel-good stories of the early season under first-year head coach Luke Walton.
OPENING LINE:
Kings by 8.5
MATCHUP TO WATCH:
Kings Bench vs. Lakers Bench -- Joerger is starting to play Ty Lawson, Garrett Temple, Omri Casspi, Matt Barnes and Willie Cauley-Stein as his core bench unit and on most night’s they have brought energy and helped stabilize the Kings. The Lakers reserves play an uptempo style, featuring big-time scorers Lou Williams and Jordan Clarkson. Sacramento’s first unit should have an advantage over the Lakers starters, but this game might be decided by whichever bench has the best night.
WHERE THEY STAND:
Kings: 8-15, fourth place in Pacific
Sports
Lakers: 10-16, third place in Pacific
INJURY REPORT:
Kings: No injuries to report.
Lakers: F/C Tarik Black (ankle) questionable, PG Jose Calderon (hamstring) questionable.
SERIES HISTORY:
The Lakers hold a 1-0 advantage in the season series after beating the Kings 101-91 at Golden 1 Center Nov. 10. The Lakers hold a 91-42 lead during the Sacramento-era and a 269-151 advantage all-time.
QUOTE:
“It’s the NBA, you’ve got to be able to forget about the past and continue to look forward. You can’t really let the past get to you. Hopefully we can come in with a better mindset and start playing for one another.” -Darren Collison after the Kings loss in Utah on Saturday
