Hornets Aim For Season Sweep of Sacramento
INJURY REPORT:
HORNETS: QUESTIONABLE- Cody Martin (Groin), DOUBTFUL - PJ Washington (Knee), OUT -LaMelo Ball (Ankle), Mark Williams (Back), Frank Ntilikina (Tibia), Gordon Hayward (Calf)
KINGS: N/A
GAME PREVIEW:
The Hornets are coming off of a tough loss to the Chicago Bulls where they came up just short in overtime. The Kings, on the other hand, have a record of 22-14 and sit in 5th place of the Western Conference. Sacramento has been up-and-down recently as they suffered a 33-point loss to the Pelicans, but responded with a 131-110 win over the Pistons last night.
For the Hornets, the story remains the same. Most of the Hornets' key players won't be playing in the contest. For the Kings, it's the absolute opposite. Throughout most of the season, the Kings have remained fairly healthy and that remains the same for tonight.
The Hornets have had the Kings number when facing off head-to-head as of late, winning 13 of the last 17 meetings which dates back to the 2015-2016 season. The last time these two teams faced off was just over a week ago in Sacramento and that's where the Hornets were able to put an end to their 11-game losing streak with a 111-104 win. Terry Rozier came up huge finishing the night with 34 points, 14 of which came in the fourth quarter.
Another thing to note is the Kings' struggles on back-to-backs this season. The Kings are just 1-4 when on the second night of a back-to-back. Last night, the Kings had Keegan Murray, Domantas Sabonis, and De'Aaron Fox, and Malik Monk all over 20+ points. Murray and Sabonis both totaled over 30 points. The Hornets could potentially catch a break with the Kings playing in Detroit last night.
KEY MATCHUP: Domantas Sabonis vs Nick Richards
Just over a week ago, Sabonis turned the ball over 11 times versus the Hornets. Most likely, Sabonis remembers that performance and wants to take better care of the ball. Richards will have to control Sabonis in the interior and not let him get going. Last night, Sabonis had one of his best performances of the seaso, totaling 37 points, 13 assists, and 10 rebounds. This matchup will be very important for not only the Hornets defense, but also in who comes out with the win.
| Position | Hornets | Kings |
|---|---|---|
Point Guard | Terry Rozier | De'Aaron Fox |
Shooting Guard | Bryce McGowens | Kevin Huerter |
Small Forward | Brandon Miller | Keegan Murray |
Power Forward | Miles Bridges | Harrison Barnes |
Center | Nick Richards | Domantas Sabonis |
