Tip-Off: 7 PM CT
Location: Chesapeake Energy Arena (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma)
Television: Bally Sports Oklahoma
Radio: WWLS 98.1FM OKC The Sports Animal
Twitter: Follow @ZacharyLowNBA for live-tweets and discussion during the game
The Oklahoma City Thunder put up a valiant effort on Sunday against the Phoenix Suns with a close 123-120 loss. Despite not winning, it was a refreshing rebound after Saturday’s embarrassing blowout loss to the Indiana Pacers. Now the Thunder hosts the Sacramento Kings, who have not quite been eliminated from playoff contention, but they are basically there.
The Kings are just 27-37 and 12th in the Western Conference, 4 games back from qualifying for the play-in tournament. With just 8 games remaining, Sacramento’s only saving grace is that they play the Thunder three times. Still, their odds of even making the play-in tournament are extremely slim.
The Thunder are essentially counting down the days until the end of the regular season and, if we are being honest, to June 22nd, the day of the Draft Lottery. On that day, Thunder fans will find out (on some level) if the excruciatingly long tank season was worth it. Regardless, there are still games to be played, and I for one am enjoying see guys continue to develop into the players that will guide us into greatness in the future.
Projected Starters
Thunder
- PG: Théo Maledon
- SG: Luguentz Dort
- SF: Darius Bazley
- PF: Isaiah Roby
- C: Moses Brown
Kings
- PG: Delon Wright
- SG: Buddy Hield
- SF: Maurice Harkless
- PF: Marvin Bagley III
- C: Richaun Holmes
Injuries
Thunder
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is OUT (plantar fasciitis in right foot).
- Mike Muscala is OUT (right ankle sprain).
- Aleksej Pokuševski is QUESTIONABLE (left knee contusion).
Kings
- Harrison Barnes is DOUBTFUL (left adductor tightness).
- De’Aaron Fox is OUT (health and safety protocols).
- Tyrese Haliburton is OUT (left knee injury).
- Chimezie Metu is QUESTIONABLE (sore lower back).
Head-to-Head
- Since arriving in Oklahoma City in 2008, the Thunder is 32-11 against the Kings (18-3 at home, 14-8 on the road).
- Since arriving in Oklahoma City in 2008, the Thunder has won the regular season series against the Kings 10 times, lost it once, and tied it once.
- The Thunder went 2-1 against the Kings last season (1-0 at home, 1-1 on the road).