Gametime: 4:00 pm PST
Where: Air Canada Centre, Toronto, ON.
Broadcast Information: KHTK Sports 1140 (Radio), Comcast SportsNet California (Local Television)
Sacramento Kings Projected Starters (22-39)
PG: Isaiah Thomas
SG: Ben McLemore
SF: Rudy Gay
PF: Jason Thompson
C: DeMarcus Cousins
Toronto Raptors Projected Starters (33-26)
PG: Kyle Lowry
SG: DeMar Derozan
SF: Landry Fields
PF: Amir Johnson
C: Jonas Valanciunas
What to watch
1. Rudy’s return
Rudy Gay returns to the city he briefly called home for several months. Gay played less than a season for the Raptors, but left the city maligned by fans and analytical critics. Many people had written Gay off after his trade to the Kings, but he has taken off in the capital city. As a King, Gay is averaging 20.8 points, 5.6 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game. And to the chagrin of his statistical detractors, he’s also shooting at a much more efficient clip – 50 percent from the field. He told media that his return to Toronto is just another game, but we’ll see if his play tonight suggests otherwise.
2. Quincy’s return
Unlike Gay, Acy’s return won’t receive top billing in tonight’s game. But of the three players who came to Sacramento from Toronto, no one took the trade harder than Acy. The 22-year-old forward grew fond of playing north of the border and took it to heart when the Raptors decided to deal him just a month and a half into his second season. Acy always plays with a ton of energy, but he may have something extra against his former Raptors teammates tonight.
3. Ray’s rise
Ray McCallum has played incredibly well for the Kings as of late. Since the trade deadline, the rookie guard has stepped up to play extended minutes at both guard positions. In his last five games, McCallum has averaged 9.0 points and 3.4 assists in 25.8 minutes per contest. McCallum has become a steady presence in the Kings’ rotation and continues to get better as the season goes on. We’ll see if that trend continues tonight against the Raptors.
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