Game time: 7:00 p.m. PDT
Where: Sleep Train Arena, Sacramento, CA.
Broadcast Information: KHTK Sports 1140 (Radio), Comcast SportsNet California (Local Television), NBA TV
Sacramento Kings Probable Starters (12-17)
PG: Darren Collison
SG: Ben McLemore
SF: Rudy Gay
PF: Jason Thompson
C: DeMarcus Cousins
New York Knicks Probable Starters (5-26)
PG: Jose Calderon
SG: Tim Hardaway Jr.
SF: Carmelo Anthony
PF: Jason Smith
C: Cole Aldrich
Three things to ponder
1. Melo out
Disrupting Carmelo Anthony’s offense would go a long way for the Kings. When the league’s fifth-leading scorer (24 points per game) records 20 points or less, the Knicks are 0-10 this season.
2. Return of the 3-ball?
The Knicks allow the fewest points in the paint in the NBA this season (36.9 per game), which is less a testiment to their interior defense than their atrocious perimeter coverage. New York is allowing opponents to shoot 38.9 percent from behind the arc, worst in the league, and with stopper Iman Shumpert (shoulder) out, Sacramento should use this opportunity to get their own struggles from deep going.
3. Self-destruction
The Kings have made an art out of allowing bottom-dwelling clubs to compete with them, be it through careless turnovers, lazy perimeter defense and/or trips to the line. Limiting these miscues can let Sacramento play 48 minutes of basketball with no regrets.
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