Clippers at Kings
While most NBA teams will enjoy just a one-day break for Thanksgiving, the Sacramento Kings will be playing their first game in five days when they host the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday. The Kings haven’t hit the hardwood since a 100-86 road loss against the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday. The Clippers, meanwhile, are coming off a 93-80 home win against the New York Knicks on Wednesday despite point guard Chris Paul leaving with a strained hamstring.
The teams will be meeting for the second time in less than a week after the Clippers claimed a 103-102 victory Saturday in Los Angeles — the front end of back-to-back games at Staples Center for Sacramento. Paul’s free throw with 2.5 seconds was the difference as the Clippers rallied from five points down over the final 3:18 for their second win over the Kings this season. "I was proud of our guys at the end. We had to gather ourselves and get the lead back,” Clippers coach Doc Rivers said afterward.
TV: 10 p.m. ET, Prime Ticket (Los Angeles), CSN California (Sacramento)
ABOUT THE CLIPPERS (11-5): Perhaps no NBA player has been more consistent than Paul, who has scored in double figures in every game this season and reached double digits in assists in all but two. Paul insisted after the win over the Knicks that he will play against the Kings on Friday. Shooting guard J.J. Redick has also been very steady, nailing at least one 3-pointer in every game and missing only four free-throw attempts all season. Los Angeles has taken advantage of a home-heavy schedule to begin the campaign but is only 3-4 on the road.
ABOUT THE KINGS (4-9): Sacramento has played better since first-year coach Michael Malone inserted rookie Ben McLemore and Jason Thompson into the starting lineup, going 3-4 after a 1-5 start. Big man DeMarcus Cousins leads the Kings in points (21.3), rebounds (10.5), steals (1.7) and blocks (1.2). Reserve point guard Isaiah Thomas has yet to start a game this season but is second on the team in points (17.9) and minutes (28.3). Forward Derrick Williams, the No. 2 overall draft pick in the 2011 draft, will make his team debut after being acquired from Minnesota for forward Luc Richard Mbah a Moute.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Sacramento has shot less than 50 percent from the field in every game this season.
2. Paul had 22 points and nine assists in the previous meeting, snapping his double-double streak to open the season at 13 games.
3. Clippers C DeAndre Jordan has pulled down at least 12 rebounds in six of his past seven games.