The Sacramento Kings should be improved this season but must make a huge leap in performance to land in the hunt for a playoff spot in the deep Western Conference.
One team they would like to replace in that field from last season is the Portland Trail Blazers, who host the Kings Wednesday night at the Moda Center.
Sacramento went 31-41 last season to finish tied with New Orleans for 11th in the West and two games out of a play-in spot. The Kings’ three-guard lineup of De’Aaron Fox, Buddy Hield and Tyrese Haliburton will be an intriguing challenge for the Blazers’ three-guard lineup of Damian Lillard, CJ McCollum and Norman Powell.
“Fast,” Portland coach Chauncey Billups said of the Kings. “They get the ball up and down the floor. Our transition defense will be tested. We will have to be loading up and getting ready for De’Aaron Fox. And the thrust that he plays with is incredible. He’s so fast. Now he’s become a really good shooter, too. He’s going to be a handful.”
Transition defense was a problem for the Blazers during their 0-4 preseason that included a 107-93 loss to the Kings. But Billups expects a much better showing by his team now that the games count. So do his players.
“The preseason is all for learning,” center Jusuf Nurkic said. “We were having hard practices, long film sessions and everything else. We don’t worry too much about the results of the games.”
The Kings finished 12th in offensive rating last season (114.4) and averaged 113.7 points per game (12th). They will provide a solid early test for the Blazers’ new defensive approach.
NOTES
Portland swept the Kings, 3-0 last season ... Damian Lillard averaged 33.7 points and 8.7 assists in three games against the Kings while shooting 44.6% from the field and 40.5% on threes ... The Kings selected Blazers guard Ben McLemore with the seventh pick of the 2013 NBA Draft ... Sacramento’s Mo Harkless spent four seasons with the Blazers from 2015-19.
READ
How Chauncey Billups built his Trail Blazers coaching staff by valuing chemistry and diverse experiences
Trail Blazers’ Damian Lillard reiterates desire to remain in Portland, sets clear goals: ‘I want to be MVP. I want to win the championship’
Portland Trail Blazers, after tumultuous offseason, begin season with a new coach, new optimism and a new commitment from their star
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS VS. SACRAMENTO KINGS
What: Trail Blazers at Kings, 7 p.m., Wednesday
Where: Moda Center.
Radio: Rip City Radio (KPOJ 620 AM)
TV channel: Root Sports (in Portland: Comcast 34/734, DirecTV 687/688)
How to watch live stream online: You can watch this game live for FREE with fuboTV (free trial). You can also get this game on DirecTV Stream’s “CHOICE” package (promotional offers), if you are out of fuboTV trials, or simply prefer that platforms and their pricing plans. If you already have a cable, or satellite provider that carry’s Root Sports, you can sing in with your information and watch on Root Sports Live. If you already have a cable or satellite provider that carries Root Sports and want to watch online, you can watch this game live on Root Sports Live with your cable provider login.
ODDS
Spread: Blazers by 6 | Over/Under: 234.5.
Moneyline: Blazers -240 | Kings +200
INJURIES
Blazers: G/F Tony Snell (right foot sprain) is out.
Kings: The Kings have no injuries to report.
NEXT UP
The Blazers host the defending Western Conference champion Phoenix Suns at 7 p.m., Saturday.
-- Aaron Fentress | afentress@Oregonian.com | @AaronJFentress (Twitter), @AaronJFentress (Instagram), @AaronFentress (Facebook).
Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories
Ad Choices