The Sacramento Kings will head to Texas on Friday night to face the San Antonio Spurs in a Western Conference clash. Both teams will be playing the second game of back-to-back matchups. Entering Thursday night's action, the Kings hold a 10-12 record, leaving them just outside the playoff contention in the Western Conference. Meanwhile, the Spurs sit at 11-10, currently occupying the 10th seed in the conference standings. Tip-off is set for 8:10 PM EST.
San Antonio has struggled recently, dropping three of their last four games to fall to an even .500 record. On Thursday night, they suffered a 139-124 loss at home against the Chicago Bulls.
This marked the Spurs' second consecutive defeat, and they played without their rising star Victor Wembanyama, who was sidelined due to back soreness. The absence might have been a precautionary measure, given that San Antonio has another game in quick succession.
Over the past two seasons, the Sacramento Kings built their identity around a fast-paced style and a heavy reliance on three-point shooting. However, this year, the team has shifted its strategy, emphasizing half-court offense and reducing its dependence on long-range shots.
So far, the results have been inconsistent, with the Kings sitting two games below .500 ahead of their Thursday night matchup against the Grizzlies in Memphis. Leading up to this game, Sacramento has dropped three of its last five contests. On Tuesday, the Kings' offense found its rhythm in a 120-111 victory over the Rockets, denying Houston a top spot in the NBA Cup quarterfinals.
Domantas Sabonis spearheaded the effort with 27 points, while the Kings hit 15 consecutive shots during the second and third quarters, turning an eight-point deficit into a 12-point lead. De’Aaron Fox contributed 22 points, and Malik Monk added 17 points along with a career-high 12 assists. The win marked the Kings' first in their four NBA Cup games.
This shift in offensive philosophy is evident in the team’s improved shooting accuracy and reduced reliance on three-pointers. The Kings currently rank 11th in scoring across the NBA. They are sixth in field goal percentage but only 25th in three-point shooting percentage and 26th in three-pointers made per game. The team ranks 11th in turnovers per game and holds the eighth spot in offensive efficiency.
Defensively, the Kings are 20th in scoring defense, 16th in opponent field goal percentage, and 29th in defending the three-point shot. They rank 13th in forcing turnovers and 18th in defensive efficiency. On the boards, the Kings are positioned 17th in total rebounds per game this season.
The San Antonio Spurs are showing progress compared to last year, with reigning Rookie of the Year Victor Wembanyama leading the charge. Currently sitting at 11-10, the Spurs are vying for a playoff position in the Western Conference. They’ve secured victories in three of their last five games as they approach Thursday’s clash with the Chicago Bulls. In their last outing on Tuesday, they suffered a 104-93 loss to the Phoenix Suns during NBA Cup play. Wembanyama contributed 15 points, all in the second half, along with 13 rebounds. Devin Vassell stood out with 25 points off the bench, while Jeremy Sochan made a notable return after missing 13 games due to a thumb injury, delivering a double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds.
The Spurs are set to face the Kings for the third time this season, having won the previous two matchups. With Sochan back in action, the team benefits from added depth. Wembanyama, however, will sit out Thursday’s game against Chicago due to back soreness, making it more likely he’ll play on Friday.
Offensively, the Spurs rank 20th in the league in scoring, 21st in field goal percentage, and 17th in three-point accuracy. They are 12th in made three-pointers per game, 13th in turnovers per game, and 15th in offensive efficiency. Defensively, they rank 9th in points allowed, 9th in opponent field goal percentage, and 10th in three-point defense.
