Game Preview: San Antonio Spurs at Sacramento Kings

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The San Antonio Spurs look for their fourth straight win tonight as they reach the conclusion of their four game road trip through the NBA’s Pacific Division with a game against the Sacramento Kings.

The game is scheduled for 9 p.m. CT and will be televised on Fox Sports Southwest. The game can also be heard on the radio on WOAI 1200 AM.

How will San Antonio fare against Sacramento? We take a look at recent history, injuries, and key matchups to predict the outcome of the game!

Recent Games

San Antonio Spurs

The San Antonio Spurs head into this game looking to complete a sweep of their four game road trip. After impressive wins against the Clippers and Warriors, the Spurs pulled out another great effort last night absolutely picking apart the Lakers in a 93-80 win.

San Antonio is will be hoping to open this game up early to rest its starters as the game is on the second night of a back-to-back. The Spurs will also be looking for Tim Duncan to break some crazy milestone. The star forward has done so in San Antonio’s last two games, joining the 25,000 point club and the 14,000 rebound club.

Sacramento Kings

The Sacramento Kings come into this game reeling. After starting out hot by winning five of their first six games, they have cooled off significantly, dropping their last three.

The Kings will be looking to rebound tonight but their chances look tough as they face a sizzling Spurs squad. If Sacramento wants to be considered as a playoff contender this season, they will have to prove they can beat some of the NBA’s elite teams, especially in their house.

Injuries

San Antonio Spurs

Marco Belinelli, Shooting Guard – Belinelli suffered a groin injury towards the end of the first quarter in last week’s win over the Atlanta Hawks. He is still expected to miss tonight’s game. Expect his minutes to go to Austin Daye.

Patty Mills, Point Guard – Mills is still healing from surgery on his torn rotator cuff. Expect his minutes to go to Cory Joseph.

Tiago Splitter, Center – Splitter re-aggravated his right calf injury in the game against the Hawks and is expected to miss tonight’s game. He is expected to visit a specialist and remains uncertain for future games.  Look for Boris Diaw and Matt Bonner to pick up his minutes.

Sacramento Kings

The Sacramento Kings will have their whole team to use against the San Antonio Spurs. They have no players listed as injured.

Key Matchups

Tonight’s key matchup occurs down low in a battle of experience versus youth with the San Antonio Spurs’ Tim Duncan and the Sacramento Kings’ DeMarcus Cousins. The Kings have been animals on the boards averaging 46.6 rebounds per game this season, good for second among NBA teams. Sacramento also does a fantastic part of boxing-out opponents, creating a 9.3 rebound differential, the highest in the NBA. That’s nearly a full three rebound differential between the Kings and the league’s second place team in that category, the Indiana Pacers.

PF. Tim Duncan has continued to drink from the fountain of youth this season, averaging a double-double with 14.4 points and 11.4 rebounds. Duncan will have his work for him cut out tonight if he wants to record another double-double. He will be matched up against DeMarcus Cousins, one of the NBA’s best down low. The Big Fundamental is only 11 double-doubles away from tying Karl Malone as fifth all-time in that category so it will be interesting to see what he can accomplish down low.. PF. San Antonio Spurs. TIM DUNCAN

C. Sacramento Kings. DEMARCUS COUSINS. C. DeMarcus Cousins has been a nightmare for opposing teams to start this season. He’s averaging 22.1 points this season and has been a huge part of the Sacramento Kings’ high rebound differential with 11.2 rebounds a night. Cousins also posts a 26.7 player efficienct rating, good for fourth in the league. It will be up to the Kings young superstar to lead his team to victory tonight. He can start be setting a good example for his teammates by outdueling one of the NBA’s greats, Tim Duncan.

Prediction

The San Antonio Spurs continue their hot ways and take their fourth straight victory. The back-end of this four game road trip was supposed to be the easier half and it will show through tonight with the Spurs handedly picking up a win.

The Sacramento Kings are reeling and the losing isn’t going to stop yet. This team is still young and struggles with composure at times. That will ultimately be the down fall for the Kings in this one. (Note: Air Alamo is 4-3 on San Antonio Spurs game predictions)

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Next: Post-Game Grades: San Antonio Spurs at Los Angeles Lakers