Game 3 Preview: Sacramento Kings at Indiana Pacers

Marcus Thornton with former teammate David West (Photo: Steven Chea) 650x400

Gametime: 4:00 pm PST

Where:  Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN.

Broadcast Information: Click here.

For Pacers perspective, visit fellow TrueHoop Network affiliate Eight Points, Nine Seconds.

Sacramento Kings Probable Starters (0-2)

PG: Isaiah Thomas
SG: Tyreke Evans
SF: James Johnson
PF: Jason Thompson
C: DeMarcus Cousins

Indiana Pacers Probable Starters (1-1)

PG: George Hill
SG: Paul George
SF: Gerald Green
PF: David West
C: Roy Hibbert

Three questions to ponder

1. Does foul trouble plague DeMarcus Cousins for a third-consecutive game?

It hasn’t been a good start to the season for the Sacramento Kings’ center.  In the Kings’ first two contests, Cousins has played less than 30 minutes due to early foul trouble.  Once again, Cousins will be facing another formidable challenge at center in the form of All-Star Roy Hibbert.  Cousins has more natural talent than Hibbert, but can he play smart like the Pacers center in order to be a factor in tonight’s game?

2. Do the Kings finally find their offense?

It’s a small sample size, but the Kings have looked discombobulated on offense in their first two games.  They’ve shot less than 40 percent from the field in their losses against the Minnesota Timberwolves and Chicago Bulls.  For a team with a pleuthora of offensive weapons, that’s not an acceptable percentage.  Their offense could be fixed if the answer to question No. 1 turns out to be no.

3.  Can the Kings limit the Pacers’ points in the paint?

The first half of yesterday’s defeat in Minnesota looked more like a layup line than a competitive game.  The Kings had trouble stopping Minnesota’s dribble penetration, leading the T-Wolves to score 28 of their 52 points in the paint before intermission.  Playing better transition defense from the get-go may help the Kings slow down the Pacers in this category.

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