There is no rest for the weary. After a heartbreaking double-overtime loss to the Charlotte Hornets on Monday night, the Sacramento Kings have a quick turnaround Tuesday in Portland against the Trail Blazers, who are right on their heels in the standings.
DeMarcus Cousins has taken his game to a superstar level. The 25-year-old big man backed up his 48-point performance on Saturday with a career-high 56 points against Charlotte. His 27.6 points per game average trails only Stephen Curry (30.3) and James Harden (27.7) and he is fourth in the league in rebounding as well at 11.4 per contest.
The Blazers have won 5-of-7 and are just a game behind Sacramento for the coveted No. 8 spot in the Western Conference standings. All-Star Damian Lillard is fresh off a 32-point performance against the Lakers and he’s currently averaging a career-best 24.5 points per game. He’ll be paired in the backcourt with runaway Most Improved Player candidate C.J. McCollom who put 35 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists on the Kings the last time these two teams met.
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LINE:
Trail Blazer by 5.5
MATCHUP TO WATCH:
DeMarcus Cousins vs. the record books -- Cousins has dropped in 104 points over his previous two games and no one seems to have an answer. The Blazers use a quick, but undersized frontline. Cousins put 36 points on this team in December and if his teammates continue to feed him, he may be up for another huge night.
WHERE THEY STAND:
Kings: 20-24, third place in Pacific
Trail Blazers: 20-26, second place in Northwest
NBA
INJURY REPORT:
Kings: F Rudy Gay (left corneal abrasion) out, Eric Moreland (foot surgery) out, Duje Dukan (lower leg) out.
Trail Blazers: No injuries to report.
SERIES HISTORY:
The Blazers beat the Kings 98-94 at Sleep Train Arena without Damian Lillard in the only matchup between these teams this season. Portland holds a 124-76 all-time lead over the Kings and an 83-45 advantage during the Sacramento-era.
QUOTABLE:
“Portland is going to be one of those teams, if we stay in the hunt for the 8th or 7th seed. Their record isn’t great, but they’re more a talented team than we played tonight. They play a similar game, they love to shoot the three, and they like to pound the boards.” --George Karl following the Kings loss to Charlotte