Sacramento has embarked on their season long 8 game road trip, made even longer by today's game against the New York Knicks. Originally, this was scheduled to take place in January but a snowstorm caused it to be postponed until today. New York is on a rare win streak but Sacramento is probably getting DeMarcus Cousins back and should be the favorites heading into the game. Today's action tips off at 4:00 pm on Comcast SportsNet California and on KHTK 1140.
3 THINGS TO LOOK FOR
1. The Knicks are pretty beat up with Carmelo Anthony done for the season and Jose Calderon unlikely to play. New York's roster is a medley of roleplayers, young guys and D-League callups and as such they're possessors of the NBA's worst record. The Knicks are among the league's worst in almost every single major statistical category. As such, the Kings couldn't ask for a better opponent to start their road trip against. Should DeMarcus Cousins be available (he was listed as probable), this game should be a breeze.
2. Andrea Bargnani is actually back in action for New York. The Knicks got Bargnani back shortly before the All-Star break and he's rejoined the starting lineup recently. Bargnani isn't a huge threat, and he's still working his way back into game shape, but he can create problems for Sacramento if they allow him to get going from distance.
3. This has the potential to be a trap game for Sacramento. The quality of their opponents since Karl has taken over has been pretty good (aside from a depleted Boston squad), and with a rematch against the Spurs tomorrow night, the team runs the risk of overlooking New York. This is a Knicks squad that has won two in a row including their last win against the very good Toronto Raptors. Sacramento can't go into this game expecting to win.
MATCHUP OF THE GAME
Tim Hardaway Jr. vs. Ben McLemore
With Carmelo Anthony out, the Knicks don't have a whole bunch of scoring options, but Hardaway Jr. has shown that he has the ability to fill it up at times. McLemore will need to attack him on both ends of the court. McLemore has shown some nice aggression under Karl, but he still tends to disappear at times. He needs to do a better job of harnessing that aggression for 48 minutes.
PREGAME LIMERICK
Eight games in 12 days,
all on the road, far aways.
First the Knicks,
who shoot bricks
so lets see if these Kings can amaze.
PREDICTION
Kings 124, Knicks 101 as DeMarcus Cousins reenacts Miley Cyrus' song "Wrecking Ball" for the Madison Square Garden crowd.