Kings at Suns
The Sacramento Kings have suffered through a 13-season playoff drought and are envisioning that this is the season for a breakthrough. The Kings begin pursuit of that goal on Wednesday with a road game against the Phoenix Suns, who have missed the playoffs in nine straight seasons and lost more than 60 games in each of the past two.
Sacramento had a .500 mark late last season before losing six of its final eight games to miss the postseason and point guard De'Aaron Fox said viewing the upcoming season as a success revolves around being part of the playoff field. "I think it does," Fox told reporters. "Everybody knows the West has gotten extremely tough. It was tough before this season, it has gotten a lot tougher. At the same time, we think we've gotten better as a team." Phoenix can't realistically talk about being a contender after winning fewer than 25 games in each of the past four seasons but star guard Devin Booker says pushing hard at improvement is a key. "I take this game very seriously. I love the game of basketball," Booker told reporters. "I always tell the team every game is a new opportunity. I don't count myself out of any game no matter what the score is or who we're playing. I'm going full tilt and doing everything I can to get a win."
TV: 10 p.m. ET, NBCS California (Sacramento), FS Arizona (Phoenix)
ABOUT THE KINGS (2018-19: 39-43): Sacramento locked up Buddy Hield with a four-year, $94 million contract on Monday to prevent the standout shooting guard from becoming a restricted free agent after the season. "Buddy has made tremendous growth each season since joining the team and we are thrilled that he will remain a King as we continue to build an exciting future here in Sacramento," general manager Vlade Divac said in a statement. "He has quickly established himself as an elite shooter in the league and is an important part of our young, dynamic core." Hield averaged 20.7 points and made a franchise-record 278 3-pointers last season and is viewed as one of the team's jewels alongside Fox and power forward Marvin Bagley III.
ABOUT THE SUNS (2018-19: 19-63): Booker was dealing with a sprained left middle finger leading up to the opener but indicated he doesn't expect to be bothered by it. Booker, who turns 23 next week, averaged 26.6 points last season as one of the most potent scorers in the NBA and his production might only be enhanced by new backcourt partner Ricky Rubio, a pass-first playmaker. "He gives me a lot of options," Rubio told reporters about playing with Booker. "He's got a lot of weapons and a lot of tools to play with. My mind is going 100 percent out there trying to figure out which one is the best. There are so many options."
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The Kings went 3-1 against the Suns last season.
2. Phoenix G Tyler Johnson (knee) will likely sit out the opener while F Dario Saric (quadriceps) is questionable.
3. Sacramento F Harry Giles III (knee) was a limited practice participant on Monday and is expected to be available.