The Sacramento Kings are back in action tonight to face the Denver Nuggets, and they’re going to look much different than the squad we’ve seen for most of the season. Let’s get into it.
Who: Sacramento Kings (6-18) vs. Denver Nuggets (17-6)
Where: Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, CA
When: 7:00 PM PT / 10:00 PM ET
Watch: NBCSCA / League Pass
We don’t root for injuries around here, but with Zach LaVine joining Domantas Sabonis and Dennis Schroder on the injury report, tonights game against the Nuggets offers Kings fans their first real look at what a younger version of this team might look like. Could it get ugly? Absolutely. Am I more intrigued to watch it than your typical Kings game this season? Yes I am.
Maxime Raynaud will likely continue starting for the injured Sabonis. Nique Clifford is expected to start for LaVine. Hell, Keon Ellis might even get a minutes bump with LaVine sitting out.
Unfortunately Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets are on the other side of this impromptu youth movement. Raynaud has played very well, and Jokic is a problem for everyone, but that matchup alone could blow this game up for the Kings. It is what it is, this is how you learn. Denver will be missing Aaron Gordon and Christian Braun, so they aren’t exactly at full strength, either.
Prediction: Kings 115, Nuggets 112.