The resurgent Sacramento Kings will put their four-game winning streak on the line when they play host to the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday at Golden 1 Center.
The Kings (12-30) have won the first four games of their season-long seven-game homestand, posting victories over the Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks and Washington Wizards.
The Blazers (21-22) have won nine of their last 12 after going 12-19 to start the season. They will be on the second night of a back-to-back after beating the Lakers 132-116 on Saturday in Portland.
The Kings are closer to full strength than they’ve been in quite some time, but Keegan Murray is still out with a left ankle sprain and Keon Ellis is questionable due to left knee soreness. The Blazers have yet to submit an injury report, but Deni Avdija’s status is in doubt after missing the past three games with a lower back strain.
Here are three keys to Sunday’s game.
Sacramento’s 3-point shooting
Sacramento has been one of the worst 3-point shooting teams in the NBA all season, but no team has shot the long ball better than the Kings during their current winning streak.
Over the past four games, the Kings are No. 1 in the NBA in 3-point shooting at 46.7%. Zach LaVine, Malik Monk and Russell Westbrook combined to shoot 18.4 of Sacramento’s 26.8 3-point attempts per game during that stretch, all with remarkable efficiency.
LaVine shot 56% on 6.3 attempts. Westbrook shot 51.7% on 7.3 attempts. Monk shot 47.4% on 4.8 attempts.
Deni Avdija’s injury
Avdija’s absence would be significant if he is unable to play Sunday. The 6-foot-8 forward is having a career year for the Blazers, averaging 26.1 points, 7.1 rebounds and 6.9 assists.
Avdija scored 35 points in a 134-133 overtime victory over the Kings on Dec. 18 in Portland. He had 24 points and 11 assists in a 98-93 victory over the Kings on Dec. 20 in Sacramento.
Presence of Domantas Sabonis
Kings center Domantas Sabonis was out with a partially torn meniscus in his left knee when Sacramento played Portland in December. After missing 27 games, Sabonis returned to post 13 points, six rebounds and five assists in Friday’s 128-115 victory over the Wizards.
Blazers at Kings
When: 6 p.m.
Where: Golden 1 Center
TV: NBC Sports California
Radio: Sactown Sports 1140
Odds: Kings -2.5
Over/under: 229.5
Injury report
Blazers: Not yet submitted.
Kings: QUESTIONABLE — Keon Ellis (knee). OUT — Keegan Murray (ankle); Daeqwon Plowden (G League); Isaiah Stevens (G League).