Feb 2, 2024; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) passes the ball while Sacramento Kings guard Malik Monk (0) defends in the second half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
The Sacramento Kings cling to life in the NBA Play-In race, currently in the 10th seed with a 1.5 game lead over the Phoenix Suns, who will be without Kevin Durant for at least one game after a nasty ankle turn Sunday against the Rockets. But the Kings can’t take anything for granted, especially as the Dallas Mavericks have returned to life and overtaken the Kings for the 9th seed. Will this team actually show up? Or will we get a repeat of Sunday’s performance?
Let’s talk Kings basketball!
**When:** Monday, March 31st, 4:00 PM PT
**Where:** Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN
**TV:** NBC Sports California
**Radio****:** Sactown Sports 1140 AM
Both teams are entering this game close to full strength. The Kings will be without Jake LaRavia, and without Devin Carter who has been ruled out with a right shoulder injury. Carter had surgery to repair his left shoulder over the offseason. While another shoulder injury is concerning, at least it isn’t the same shoulder. The Pacers will be without Bennedict Mathurin as he deals with a calf injury.
Anytime the Kings and Pacers play it’s an opportunity for fans and pundits to rehash the Tyrese Haliburton/Domantas Sabonis trade yet again. I grew weary over the years, as it was tiring to defend what seemed to be such a win-win trade for both teams. And yet, while I stand by that assessment based on the facts at the time, it’s hard not to revisit that trade in the wake of the Kings trading De’Aaron Fox. The primary reason the Kings cited for the trade was that Fox wouldn’t sign an extension, or at least threatened not to sign one. One of the biggest arguments against the Kings in the Haliburton trade was giving up such a talented player who would be under team control for many more years. That critique certainly seems more valid now. Add in the growing speculation that Domantas Sabonis could possibly ask for a trade as early as this summer, and the trade grows harder and harder to defend. Haliburton could continue to thrive in Indiana long after both Fox and Sabonis are no longer Kings.
Speaking of Tyrese, he’s been playing great lately after starting his season off slowly. In the month of March he’s racked up 112 assists and just 10 turnovers, while also averaging 20 points per game. He’s also been back to shooting over 40% from 3 for each of the last three months. The Kings will need to find a way to slow down Haliburton and once-almost-a-King Pascal Siakam to have any shot at winning this one.
Prediction
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The Kings flip a coin. It comes up heads, meaning they’ll show up for this game!
Kings 140, Pacers 138