The Kings have just two games left on this road trip and tonight's game against the Cavs might just be the best chance they have to win at least one before the All-Star break.
The Kings have yet to win on this road trip and will look to do so tonight in Cleveland(4:00 pm on Comcast SportsNet California and KHTK 1140). Sacramento had their biggest win of the season against the Cavs last month when they beat them by 44 points. The Cavaliers likely haven't forgotten that, and they have been playing better as of late, coming off of two wins against the Wizards and Grizzlies.
MATCHUP OF THE GAME
Isaiah Thomas vs. Kyrie Irving
We all know by now that Isaiah loves going up against Irving, the player taken 1st in the draft when he was taken 60th. Thomas especially outplayed him in their last matchup, a game in which Irving looked disinterested and scored just 7 points on 14 shots. In many ways, Irving and Thomas are similar players (they put up incredibly similar statistics, with Thomas edging Irving in a couple categories) and since the Cavs usually go as Irving goes (24.5 points & 7.4 assists in wins compared to 20 points and 5.7 assists in losses), it will be crucial for Thomas to win this matchup or at least make it even.
3 THINGS
1. The Cavaliers are not a team that's particularly good at any one thing aside from offensive rebounding (where they are fourth). Their offense and defense aren't terrible, but they're also not good. They're one of the worst shooting teams in the NBA at just 42.8%. The Cavs also might be without the services of both C.J. Miles (sore foot) and Anderson Varejao (back issues) tonight, which would really hurt their depth.
2. DeMarcus Cousins has looked a bit sluggish the last couple games, even when scoring 31 points against Boston. Tonight will be a good opportunity for him to bounce back as the Cavaliers feature a whole host of nobody to guard him, especially if Varejao is out (Varejao is still a good defender but not nearly the same as he once was). Without Varejao, the biggest body the Cavs could put on Cousins is sophomore Tyler Zeller, and that's a matchup I like.
3. Rudy Gay is also in need of a bounce back game after going just 2-11 against Washington and he's going to have a tough task with Cleveland's best defender in Luol Deng on him. Deng's a good offensive player as well so Rudy will have his hands full.
PRE-GAME HAIKU
ElRon doesn't like these.
He'd rather I do limericks.
(Fart noises go here)
PREDICTION
Kings 112, Cavaliers 91 as Cavaliers players are left flat-footed on defense as they can't pay attention to anything but Quincy Acy's beard.
