SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The Kings are hoping to build some momentum in the wake of Sunday’s 27-point blowout victory over the Chicago Bulls, to snap a three game losing skid.
A win on Tuesday night, when the Kings welcome the Brooklyn Nets to Sacramento’s Golden 1 Center, will give them consecutive wins for the first time since before the All-Star break, when they defeated Phoenix on Feb. 10.
A victory on Tuesday would also put the Kings back at .500 with an overall record of 35-35.
Prior to Sunday’s 129-102 romp over the Bulls, Sacramento had dropped nine of their last 12 games to fall six games back of the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference with 13 games remaining in the regular season.
Kings coach Dave Joerger admitted that Sunday’s win over Chicago provided not only an opportunity to go deep into his bench, but also spark a little joy back to his team.
“Just to have a little bit of mental relief is good for us at this point in the season,” Joerger said.
Buddy Hield will come into Tuesday’s game just nine 3-pointers shy of the Kings record for most in a season, presently held by Kings assistant general manager Peja Stojakovic, who buried 240 in the 2003-04 season. Hield’s season total of 231 is a career high for the third year player from Oklahoma.
Brooklyn (36-36) currently sits in the seventh spot in the Eastern Conference and meets Sacramento in search of a much-needed victory. The Nets have lost three straight, all of which began their season-long seven-game road trip.
The Nets will be looking for the season sweep after defeating the Kings 123-94 in their first contest of the season on Jan. 21 at Barclays Center. In that game, Sacramento was outscored 68-34 in the second half by Brooklyn, who held the Kings to a season low nine points in the fourth quarter. D’Angelo Russell led the way with a game-high 31 points and eight assists in the victory for the Nets.
Tuesday’s game will be the second of a four-game homestand for Sacramento before they embark on a five game road trip to close the month of March.
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Brooklyn Nets at Sacramento Kings:
When: Tuesday, March 19th, 7:00pm PST
Where: Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, CA
TV: NBCS-CA
Radio: KHTK 1140 AM
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