Game time: 5:00 p.m. PDT
Where: United Center, Chicago, IL.
Broadcast Information: KHTK Sports 1140 (Radio), Comcast SportsNet California (Local Television)
Sacramento Kings Probable Starters (18-32)
PG: Ramon Sessions
SG: Ben McLemore
SF: Rudy Gay
PF: Jason Thompson
C: DeMarcus Cousins
Chicago Bulls Probable Starters (32-20)
PG: Derrick Rose
SG: Jimmy Butler
SF: Mike Dunleavy
PF: Pau Gasol
C: Joakim Noah
Three things to ponder
1. No ordinary Rose
Derrick Rose may be delicate but he isn’t soft. The former NBA MVP is enjoying a nice comeback season from repeated knee injuries with an 18.6-point and 4.9-assist average in 41 appearances. Backup point guard Ramon Sessions, who will start in Darren Collison’s place (hip), has an incredibly tall task defending Rose.
2. Race to the free throw line
The Kings and Bulls rank No. 1 and No. 2 in the league respectively in free throw attempts per game, but Chicago is much more adept at preventing opponent free throws than Sacramento. The Kings must stay at home and avoid foul trouble while maintaining aggression.
3. Two in a row?
The last time the Kings won two games in a row was between November 22 and 25, when they traveled to beat the Timberwolves and Pelicans to vault themselves to 9-5 on the season. A two-game winning streak with the possibility to be three before the All-Star break would go a long way towards a positive second half to the year. (Even with or without George Karl.)
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