One team will have its winning streak snapped when the Kings host the Nets on Friday. Of course it’s only one game for each side, but given the way both started the season, having a positive streak is a plus. After starting the season with seven straight losses, the Nets finally broke through with an upset win at Houston on Wednesday as an 11.5-point underdog, just their second cover in eight games this season.
TRAVEL/SCHEDULING/LETDOWN/LOOK AHEAD
At least the first half of the Nets’ road trip had an upside. Brooklyn earned its first win of the season with a surprising victory at Houston on Wednesday and finishes the four-game trip with a back-to-back. The Nets head across the Causeway to take on the defending champs on Saturday. While the Nets might be looking forward to a game with the league’s most dominant team, they shouldn’t overlook the Kings, who won just their second game of the season Wednesday night. But I doubt Brooklyn is overlooking anyone at this point and getting on the road presents an opportunity for the team overcome some of its troubles. The league’s worst three-point shooting team was able to knock down eight of 17 triples against the Rockets.
A brutal stretch of games against some of the Western Conference elite ended Monday with a thumping at the hands of the Spurs. It also ended a run of five games in seven nights for the Kings, who lost them all. The schedule lightens up a bit until a rematch with the Warriors at the end of the month, giving the Kings a chance to dig themselves out of the hole they nearly got buried in. They started the process with a win over Detroit on Wednesday and have two more home games before heading east on a five-game trip. With some frustration over a rough start cleared up and some key reserves ready to get back in the lineup, pay close attention to the Kings.
INJURIES
Nets center Brook Lopez left Saturday’s game with a sore right foot and the team confirmed that X-rays were negative. The injury didn’t bother him as he was in the lineup Wednesday scoring 14 points with 12 rebounds in 35-plus minutes in the Nets’ first win of the season.
Kings backup point guard Darren Collison has missed three straight games with a left hamstring injury and third-string point guard Seth Curry has missed two straight with a right ankle sprain. Both players may be in the lineup against the Nets. With injured backups, Rajon Rondo played all 48 minutes in Sac’s win over Detroit on Wednesday.
KEY MATCHUP
There’s no denying DeMarcus Cousins is a great player and sorely needed by the Kings. Sacramento lost all four games when he was out with an Achilles injury. Cousins returned Wednesday and did his usual damage on the court. He also did damage off the court. Cousins knows his value to the organization and has seemingly taken advantage of it. He recently criticized coach George Karl publicly, forcing a team meeting to “clear the air.” It’s difficult to imagine a 25-year-old in his sixth NBA season going off on a man with over 1,100 career victories and two Coach of the Year awards. But that’s the turmoil in Sacramento. Cousins said the frustration of a 1-7 start got the better of him and all he wants to do is win. He showed how badly by scoring 33 points with four three-pointers and nine rebounds as the Kings ended a six-game slide with a win over the Pistons on Wednesday. With some difficult competition out of the way and apparently the locker room stuff put to rest as well – Cousins did apologize for his behavior through a team statement – the Kings can get back to playing basketball. And with Cousins all in, they are a much better team.
ODDS AND PREDICTION
I guess you can say the Kings might be better off in the long run after starting with such a difficult schedule. They certainly aren’t better off in the short run. Sac faced some of the West’s top teams to start, losing to the Clippers twice, San Antonio, Houston, Memphis, Golden State and Phoenix. They were also without Cousins for half of those losses. A team meeting was called to clear the air after things got heated with Cousins in the middle of the uproar. Everything apparently worked out, the right things were said, and the club is moving forward with a united front. Winning is the best deodorant and with a softer schedule coming up, the Kings shouldn’t smell. They may not be a great team, but they are better than the 1-7 start they had. They showed that by knocking off Detroit on Wednesday. They’ll continue their upward swing by beating the Nets.
Sacramento 104, Brooklyn 96
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