Game 33 Preview: Kings at Timberwolves

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Game time: 5:00 p.m. PDT

Where: Target Center, Minneapolis, MN.

Broadcast Information: KHTK Sports 1140 (Radio), Comcast SportsNet California (Local Television)


Sacramento Kings Probable Starters (13-19)

PG: Darren Collison
SG: Ben McLemore
SF: Rudy Gay
PF: Derrick Williams
C: DeMarcus Cousins

Minnesota Timberwolves Probable Starters (5-25)

PG: Zach LaVine
SG: Andrew Wiggins
SF: Shabazz Muhammad
PF: Thaddeus Young
C: Gorgui Dieng


Three things to ponder

1. Ball control

Minnesota ranks fourth in the NBA with nine steals per game, which is bad news for a Sacramento club struggling all season long to take care of possessions. When these teams met on November 22, the Timberwolves stole the ball 10 times and the Kings lost 19 turnovers.

2. Freebies

Both the Kings and Timberwolves rarely shoot 3’s, and both draw a ton of free throws. Sacramento still leads the league with 30.9 attempts a contest, while Minnesota sits third with 26.9. Disciplined defense will be key, regardless of the referees’ influence.

3. DeMarcus Cousins vs. the world

After picking up two technicals and tossing Marcus Smart to the ground on Tuesday, how will Cousins respond? The Kings need him more than ever to check his emotions and anchor both sides of the floor. Last time against the Timberwolves, Cousins scored 31 points, 18 rebounds and two blocks for the win.

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