Game time: 6:00 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 (15-21)
PG: Darren Collison
SG: Ben McLemore
SF: Rudy Gay
PF: Jason Thompson
C: DeMarcus Cousins
Cleveland Cavaliers Probable Starters (19-18)
PG: Kyrie Irving
SG: J.R. Smith
SF: Mike Miller
PF: Kevin Love
C: Timofey Mozgov
Three things to ponder
1. Team basketball
LeBron James (knee/back) has missed the Cavaliers’ last seven games, and the team has gone 1-6. The Kings know this feeling all too well, as the club went 2-8 in DeMarcus Cousins’ absence a month ago. Cleveland’s cohesiveness without their superstar will go a long way towards determining their competitiveness against Sacramento.
2. Resourceful offense
The Cavaliers rarely foul on defense and allow the fewest free throw attempts per game (18.2). If the Kings can’t draw trips to the line, they especially can’t afford to settle for contested looks from the floor.
3. Defense? Defense?
Sacramento’s interest in playing defense comes and goes. There’s no better example than the last two games, when they contained the Oklahoma City Thunder to 32.6 shooting but then allowed the Denver Nuggets to make 55.3 percent of their baskets. As professionals, the Kings must hold themselves accountable.
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