With a homestand against three of the top teams in the Western Conference coming up, Sacramento coach George Karl is probably wishing the team let him go during the break. Following Wednesday’s matchup with the Spurs, the Kings host the Clippers and Thunder to close out their home stay.
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TRAVEL
San Antonio’s eight-game rodeo road trip continues with a visit to Sacramento. The Spurs’ annual excursion began before the All-Star break and will keep them away from the ATT Center until Mar. 2. The Spurs are off to a good start on this year’s trip, posting wins in four of the first five games following Sunday’s 118-111 win over Phoenix. San Antonio failed to cover against the Suns as a 14.5-point favorite and is 0-4 ATS in the past four games. The Spurs are 34-22 ATS overall this season, but only 2-8 ATS in their last 10 and their usually stout defense has sprung a few leaks with Kawhi Leonard not playing since the All-Star break.
The Kings complete a home-and-home with their former coach and the Denver Nuggets before hosting the Spurs in the second game of a back-to-back. Sacramento is in the Mile High city on Tuesday and travels back to Northern California to battle the second-best team in the Association. The Kings are just 2-11 SU in the second of their back-to-backs this season, but they are 7-6 ATS in such games. Wednesday’s contest begins a stretch of three home games that also includes visits from the Clippers and Thunder.
INJURIES
Leonard hasn’t played since before the All-Star break as he continues to deal with tightness in his calf. The injury isn’t believed to be serious, but the Spurs are taking a cautionary approach and will give their star as much time as needed. Backup center Matt Bonner remains out indefinitely with a calf strain and guard Manu Ginobili isn’t expected back until late March as he continues to recover from a groin injury.
The Kings are expected to have a few bodies back in the lineup for their showdown with the Spurs. Forward Omri Casspi missed some time recovering from dental surgery and former Spurs guard Marco Belinelli is also expected back after a dental-related issues kept him out.
KEY MATCHUP
Karl had high praise for reserve guard Darren Collison, saying he’s playing the best basketball the coach has seen him play. Collison then contributed 17 points off the bench in Sacramento’s 116-110 win over Denver, continuing an impressive stretch that began with a 20-point night against Memphis on Jan. 30. Over his last eight games, Collison has averaged 18.4 points and shot 57.8 percent from the field and 40 percent from the three-point line. Those numbers are well above his season averages – his 13.5 points per game mostly as a reserve rank third on the team and outpace his numbers from last season, when Collison averaged a career-high in minutes as the starting point guard. Collison is technically the backup point guard to Rajon Rondo, but the two have spent time together on the court, freeing up Collison to run the floor looking for open looks in transition. He’s being more aggressive in the shooting guard role and has received more time in that spot.
ANALYSIS AND ODDS PREDICTION
We got a glimpse of just how important Leonard is to the Spurs over the past three games. Since the break, San Antonio has allowed all three opponents to score over 100 points, the first time that’s happened all year, and the NBA’s defensive player of the year hasn’t been in the lineup. But the Spurs are still a potent offensive club and they’ve overcome the defensive lapses in wins over the Lakers and Phoenix. The Spurs are geared for the postseason, so it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Leonard take a few more games to make sure the calf is healed. He’s needed more in late-April than the middle of February. San Antonio blasted Sacramento in November, handing the Kings their seventh loss in what was a 1-7 stretch to open the year. The Kings simply haven’t recovered.
San Antonio 111, Sacramento 104
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