Magic @ Kings Game Thread 1/10/14

[Ibn Battuta 127]

Game Time: 10 PM EST

Location: Sacramento, CA @ Sleep Train Arena

 

projected starting lineups:

 

Magic:

Nelson

Afflalo

Oladipo

Harris

Davis

 

Kings:

Isaiah Thomas

Marcus Thornton

Rudy Gay

Jason Thompson

DeMarcus Cousins

 

Injury Report:

Vucevic: OUT (sent home with concussion)

Price: Day-to-day (sinus infection)

Carl Landry: OUT (Hip)

 

game preview:

 

Among the list of things the struggling Sacramento Kings have been missing this season is a home winning streak.

 

Coming off their highest scoring game of 2013-14, the Kings look to win two straight at home for the first time since March when they host the reeling Orlando Magic on Friday.

 

Sacramento (11-22), which is 7-13 at home, hasn't won back-to-back games at Sleep Train Arena since a three-game streak from March 13-21. The Kings have managed to win two straight overall only twice this season, the last time in early December.

 

They've split their last four home games and have had arguably one of their better stretches this season during the last six overall -- despite going 3-3 in those contests. They have won at Houston and beaten Miami and Portland at home during that stretch.

 

Following a 123-119 win over the Trail Blazers on Tuesday, Sacramento is shooting 46.1 percent and averaging 109.5 points over its last four at home -- both better than its season averages. The team has also outrebounded opponents 50.5-42.8 in those games.

 

The Kings played aggressively against Portland, going to the free-throw line 50 times while making 36 of them. It was the team's highest total of attempts since going 43 for 51 against Milwaukee on Jan. 16, 2009.

 

DeMarcus Cousins had 35 points and 13 rebounds, Rudy Gay scored 32 and Isaiah Thomas finished with 22 points, eight rebounds and seven assists.

 

"Obviously, we need to get this team somewhere where everyone can shine," Gay said. It's not just about Cousins, it's not just about me — it's about us. As we get better, I think that everyone is going to get noticed."

 

The Kings have already beaten the Magic this season, winning 105-100 at Orlando on Dec. 21. Sacramento trailed by two heading into the fourth in that one before outscoring the Magic 30-23 in the quarter. Gay and Thomas each scored 23 points, and the team shot 52.2 percent (12 of 23) from 3-point range.

 

It was the third straight loss against the Kings overall for the Magic, who had won four straight in Sacramento before falling 91-82 there on Dec. 7, 2012.

 

Orlando (10-25), riding a five-game losing streak, has dropped the first two on its five-game western swing, including a 110-94 loss at Portland on Wednesday.

 

The Magic shot 39.8 percent and got only 14 points from their reserves.

 

"Everyone has to be ready to play, you have to do your part," coach Jacque Vaughn said. "That's what we always talk about. The starters cannot play the whole game and we need guys to step up and be in the game and do their job."

 

Orlando has had trouble all season scoring close to the basket. The Magic rank near the bottom of the NBA with an average of 36.0 points in the paint, and they managed only 24 against the Blazers -- one of their lowest totals this season.

 

A portion of that can be attributed to the absence of center Nik Vucevic, who missed the game because of a concussion. Vucevic, who is averaging 13.0 points and 11.0 rebounds, is expected to miss the remainder of the trip.

 

"You just have to do your job, and that's to play the game," said Glen Davis, the team's normal power forward who slid over to center in Vucevic's absence. "Wherever they put you at, you just have to play."

 

Orlando's trip also takes it to Denver on Saturday before closing Monday in Dallas.

 

http://espn.go.com/n...ew?id=400489413

 

 

IB's Key to the Game:

 

1. Contain Isaiah Thomas. He's a small, crafty PG who can penetrate and find teammates with ease. He's a really good offensive player, shooting 42% from long and averaging 19 pts/gm this season. If we can limit Thomas, we can force guys like Gay and Cousins into uncomfortable shots.

[~O~ 565]

To begin with the usual sarcasm, We don't stand a chance.........we better not stand a chance or else *shakes fist*.........

 

[CTMagicUK 1,488]

Without Vuc I can't see us winning this game. Cousins will have a massive double double.

[Mauro Pedrosa 1,033]

Ugh.. Cousins will destroy us. And he's playing against me this week :/

[Miller4Prez66 545]

It sucks when I feel like we have no chance against the Kings.

[Jay Magic 1,251]

If we play how we played against the Blazers we will win.

 

i'm expecting harris to go off sooner or later....

[Passenger57 65]

Hoping Kyle O'Quinn can get some decent minutes guarding Cousins w/o being a foul machine. Still don't get how he picks up fouls so quickly.

[Jay Magic 1,251]

I CANNOT WAIT TILL THAT *****ING BIG FAT ***** IS OFF OUR TEAM!!!!

[KRISH10 103]

Jacque is either a weak coach who is scared of big baby or a dumb coach who allows him to have the green light to shoot whenever he wants.

[Ibn Battuta 127]

you guys hate on baby too much. Someone has to lead the tank. A++ Tank commander.

[Miller4Prez66 545]

you guys hate on baby too much. Someone has to lead the tank. A++ Tank commander.

 

This. I still remember the game against these Kings where he tripped Afflalo in a key play late. BBD is the leader of this tank.

[Ibn Battuta 127]

watching these last couple games, I've noticed we don't really play like a team. It seems like Nelson only looks for AA and Baby, and vice versa. The youngins don't really get an opportunity to make a play.