Gametime: 5:00 pm PST
Where: Target Center, Minneapolis, MN.
Broadcast Information: Click here.
For Timberwolves perspective, visit fellow TrueHoop Network affiliate A Wolf Among Wolves.
Sacramento Kings Probable Starters (0-1)
PG: Isaiah Thomas
SG: Tyreke Evans
SF: James Johnson
PF: Jason Thompson
C: DeMarcus Cousins
Minnesota Timberwolves Probable Starters (0-0)
PG: Luke Ridnour
SG: Brandon Roy
SF: Andrei Kirilenko
PF: Derrick Williams
C: Nikola Pekovic
Three questions to ponder
1. How does DeMarcus Cousins respond following a frustrating first outing in game one?
A turnover-mired, foul-prone night wasn’t the way DeMarcus Cousins envisioned starting the season. But that was the reality for the Kings center, who turned the ball over seven times and was limited to just 25 minutes due to foul trouble in Wednesday’s loss to the Chicago Bulls. The Timberwolves will be without Kevin Love, but Cousins still has a tall order ahead of him in the form of Nikola Pekovic. The third-year center gave Cousins fits on both ends of the floor when the Wolves and Kings matched-up last season.
2. Do turnovers become a repeat problem for the Kings?
Turnovers may have been the difference between a win and a loss in the Kings’ first game against the Bulls. Sacramento turned the ball over 21 times, none more costly than the final one committed by Tyreke Evans on an inbounds play in the waning moments of the fourth quarter. Cousins is too good of a ball-handler to have another night like he had Wednesday. And against a stout defensive team in the Bulls, a rough outing offensively was to be expected. The Kings are more than capable of turning it around against Minnesota.
3. Can the Kings get rolling in transition?
Sacramento scored just 14 fastbreak points against Chicago on Halloween. Unable to get easy buckets, they shot barely above 40 percent from the field in the six-point loss. A win is within reason for the Kings if they’re creating deflections that lead to turnovers and scoring opportunities in transition.
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