Kings at Warriors
THE STORY: The Sacramento Kings seek revenge and a split of the four-game season series when they visit the Golden State Warriors on Saturday. Golden State routed the Kings by 26 points on March 13 in Sacramento and has won the last two meetings after losing at home to the Kings on Jan. 31. Sacramento is playing its first road game since March 5 after going 5-4 on a nine-game homestand. Golden State has lost five of six games.
TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, NBA TV, Comcast SportsNet California (Sacramento), Comcast SportsNet Bay Area (Golden State)
ABOUT THE KINGS (17-30): Center DeMarcus Cousins and forward Jason Thompson both had big rebounding games in Sacramento’s loss to the Utah Jazz on Thursday. Cousins had 18 rebounds (10 offensive) after a four-game stretch in which he totaled just 21 boards. Thompson continued a string of stellar performance with his fifth consecutive double-double. Thompson, who had 19 points and 15 rebounds, is averaging 17.6 points and 13.6 rebounds during his hot streak. High-scoring guard Marcus Thornton also is playing well, averaging 26.8 points over the last four games.
ABOUT THE WARRIORS (19-26): Rookie guard Klay Thompson has been the beneficiary in the trade that sent guard Monta Ellis to the Milwaukee Bucks but his shooting has suffered of late. Thompson is shooting just 39.5 percent from the field over the last five games and had just 10 points in Thursday’s loss to the Houston Rockets. “From the opening tip, he did not play well,” Golden State coach Mark Jackson said. “With rookies, you’re going to get that, but I’m not going to accept it. Neither should he.” On the positive end, Thompson has scored in double figures in 11 consecutive contests.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. A victory would allow Golden State to win the season series for the first time since the 2007-08 campaign.
2. Warriors guard Stephen Curry (ankle) is slated to miss his eighth consecutive game.
3. Sacramento’s Tyreke Evans had 25 points off the bench in the loss to Utah.