Kings limp into rematch with Orlando.

NBA super star Dwight Howard rested up Monday, serving a one game suspension for his 16th technical of the season.  Two weeks ago, the Sacramento Kings walked into the Amway Center and shocked the Magic, walking away with a 111-105 victory over one of the elite Eastern Conference teams.  Now the Magic are in town, with a ornery Dwight Howard, hoping to return the favor to the 15-46 Kings team that looks more like a MASH unit than a team ready to defend their home court.

I read where Dwight Howard served his suspension.  I have a suggestion.  I think he should take a precautionary suspension for tomorrow and have it retro-actively be applied when he gets his next technical.

-Coach Westphal

I’m not sure the league would approve but the Kings coach has more than just Dwight Howard to worry about.  Veteran Samuel Dalembert missed Tuesday’s practice with a sore knee and his availability for tonight’s match-up is in question.  The same goes for Jason Thompson, who re-aggravated an ankle injury from a few weeks back and he too is questionable for tonight.

With Dalembert and Thompson dinged, rookie DeMarcus Cousins, who is dealing with his own injuries issues will be called on to slow Howard.  Cousins barely avoided what would have been a catastrophic lower injury on Monday night against the Rockets when teammate Marcus Thornton lost his balance and fell into the big man’s shin area.  Although his lower right leg is sore, Cousins pronounced himself fit for duty yesterday at practice.  Thornton was also shaken up on the play, missing yesterday’s practice with a back injury, leaving his availability for this evening up in the air.

Even with so many bodies missing, Coach Westphal said that the team still had a very productive practice, using film study and some three on three work to breakdown some of the open court and pick and roll issues that sprouted up in Monday’s loss.  Westphal praised DeMarcus Cousins, telling the media that the rookie had one of his best practices of the season.  If the Kings have any chance of making it two in a row against Orlando tonight, they are going to need Cousins to dominate in his second career match-up against Dwight Howard.