Kings Wrap Up Home Stand Against Pacers: Game Preview

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The Sacramento Kings prepare to wrap up their three game home stand tonight against the Indiana Pacers. The Kings are 1-1 on this current home stand, as they look to split the season series against the Pacers.

Indiana will be without All-Star Danny Granger, who is sidelined with a sore left knee. The Pacers are coming off a road win against the Los Angeles Lakers, as they prepare for their first game of a back to back, and their second game of their current four game road trip.

Sacramento must come ready to play tonight, as they wrap up their current home stand before traveling to Los Angeles to take on the Clippers. The Kings have been unable to take advantage of their home friendly schedule to start the season, but must look to turn things around against an Indiana team that is also in search of some positives.

Sacramento must look to make plays for each other, and will need to move the ball if they are to have a chance of defeating a talented Pacers’ team. While Sacramento has the third lowest turnover average in the West at 14.6, they committed four costly turnovers late in the fourth quarter in a loss to Minnesota.

The Kings must focus on their game plan, and find the open man by moving the ball. Theywill have to attack the boards tonight as Roy Hibbert and David West are very active on the boards, and are always looking for easy second chance points.

Tyreke Evans will be expected to continue his recent success, while the team will look to DeMarcus Cousins to have another big scoring night. Cousins will also be expected to fight for rebounds, and keep Hibbert and West from scoring easy baskets in and around the paint.

The Pacers were unable to contain Marcus Thornton earlier this season, as Thornton scored 26 points. The Kings will look to get Thornton going early, and hope that the Pacers will not be able to focus on any one guard tonight. The Kings will need to spread the floor, and get as many players involved in the offense, as they are the deeper team tonight. They will look to Cousins, Evans, and Thornton to get them off to a good start, and will need all of them to contribute in late game situations.

Probable Starters:

Sacramento Kings

5 John Salmons Forward
34 Jason Thompson Forward
15 DeMarcus Cousins Center
13 Tyreke Evans Guard
3 Arron Brooks Guard

Indiana Pacers

21 David West Forward
24 Paul George Forward
55 Roy Hibbert Center
3 George Hill Guard
1 Lance Stephenson Guard