SACRAMENTO -- With two days off to dwell on their shocking loss to the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday, the Sacramento Kings return to the court Saturday for an early matinee. Needing a win to snap a three-game losing streak, the Kings draw the Phoenix Suns who have dropped their last seven.
The Kings have fallen to just 8-9 on their home floor this season, but they remain just 2.5 games out of the eight spot in the Western Conference. Marco Belinelli scored a welcomed 28 points off the Kings bench on Wednesday, but it wasn’t enough for a Kings team that turned the ball over 22 times and shot just 25-for-41 from the free throw line in a five-point loss.
Phoenix is tumbling down the standings and to compound matters, leading scorer Eric Bledsoe underwent season-ending surgery earlier this week on his left knee. The Suns will start 19-year-old rookie Devin Booker at the two in Bledsoe’s absence.
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LINE
Kings by 7
MATCHUP TO WATCH
Omri Casspi vs. T.J Warren -- Casspi is playing well since being inserted into the starting lineup. The seven-year vet is averaging 15.1 points and 7.4 rebounds while shooting 50.7 percent from 3-point land in 14 games with the first team. Warren posted a career-high 29 points last time out and is showing signs of breaking out in his second NBA season.
NBA
WHERE THEY STAND
Kings: 12-20, third place in Pacific
Suns: 12-23, fourth place in Pacific
INJURY REPORT
Kings: F-C Willie Cauley-Stein (finger) probable, F Eric Moreland (left foot) out, F Duje Dukan (lower leg injury) out
Suns: PG Eric Bledsoe (knee) out, PG Ronnie Price (toe), questionable, F Jon Leuer (ankle) questionable.
SERIES HISTORY
The Suns thumped the Kings 118-97 in the only meeting between these two teams this season. Phoenix leads the Kings 130-85 all-time and 83-46 during the Sacramento-era.
QUOTABLE
“We need to save our face and play hard every game. It’s our job. We get paid a lot. So we need to go on the court, play hard every game for us and for our fans.” --Marco Belinelli