Gametime: 7:00 pm PT
Where: Sleep Train Arena, Sacramento, CA.
Broadcast Information: TV – Comcast SportsNet California, Radio – CBS Sports 1140
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The book on the Nuggets: After starting the season with a road heavy schedule, the Nuggets have had the luxury of playing at home toward the stretch run. Denver has protected their home court this year, going an impeccable 26-3 in the Mile High City. Away from the Pepsi Center however, they’re below average. They’re 13-19 on the road this year.
Did you know? Sacramento has made 10 or more 3-pointers in five of their last six outings. During that span, they have shot 47.2 percent from 3-point range.
Sacramento Kings Probable Starters (21-40)
PG: Isaiah Thomas
SG: Tyreke Evans
SF: John Salmons
PF: Jason Thompson
C: DeMarcus Cousins
Denver Nuggets Probable Starters (39-22)
PG: Ty Lawson
SG: Andre Iguodala
SF: Danilo Gallinari
PF: Kenneth Faried
C: Kosta Koufos
Stats
Kings
- Points Per Game: 98.5
- Offensive Rating: 104.9
- Opponents Points Per Game: 104.9
- Defensive Rating: 111.7
- Pace: 93
Nuggets
- Points Per Game: 105.5
- Offensive Rating: 106.9
- Opponents Points Per Game: 100.4
- Defensive Rating: 102.5
- Pace: 97.1
Three questions to ponder
1. Will the Nuggets’ transition game dominate from the jump?
Denver is perhaps the best team in the league when it comes to executing the fastbreak. When opponents make mistakes, the Nuggets make them pay by converting in transition. This season, they lead the league in fastbreak points, averaging 19.4 per game. Keith Smart and players suggested after practice yesterday that getting into the halfcourt will be important for their success in tonight’s game.
2. Will Marcus Thornton continue to score at a high clip?
Lately, Thornton has gone back to being the Thornton of old. In his last four games, the Kings sixth man is averaging 24.8 points per game while shooting 48.3 percent from beyond the arc. In fact, other than Stephen Curry and Al Horford, no player in the league scored more points last week than Thornton. The fourth-year guard accumulated 99 points from Feb. 25 to Mar. 3.
3. Can John Salmons continue his hot shooting from three-point distance?
Salmons has practically been lights out from long range in the last week. He scored 19 points in the third quarter of Sunday’s blowout victory against the Bobcats with the majority of them coming from 3-point range. In his last five outings, the veteran small forward has shot close to 68 percent from three-point land.
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