The Minnesota Timberwolves pay their first visit to their ol’ brothers in agony, the Sacramento Kings. If you have not been following the Kings, it has been a sad (yet relatable) string of seasons for them. After a wildly successful 2022-23 “Beam Team” chapter where they convincingly ran through the tape to snap a 16-year playoff drought, they nearly dethroned the reigning champion (and more successful Northern California neighbor) Golden State Warriors in the postseason.
Everything looked so promising.
Since then, they’ve made more than a handful of mind-numbing front office and roster moves. The team is now nearly unrecognizable as they play a brand of gross, if not pity-worthy, basketball. They’re sitting at a 3-6 record after being thrashed by the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday. Aside from a defeating a Giannis-led Milwaukee Bucks team, they’ve only defeated the Utah Jazz thanks to a buzzer-beating foul call, and squeaked by a Warriors team missing their big three thanks to a throwback MVP effort by the soon-to-be 37-year-old Russell Westbrook.
Despite the fact that Minnesota is the heavy favorites entering this one, nothing can ever be given in an NBA game. The Kings roster, despite its mismatched construction, is filled with bucket-getters in Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, Malik Monk, and Russell Westbrook. The Wolves roster is filled with lackadaisical defenders. The rubber is going to meet the road in what will likely be a track meet between two teams bottom five in defensive rating.
Who can score enough points without having the stop the other? Or which team can actually lock-in and lockdown when the game is hanging in the balance?
It’s a late West Coast tip with the action beginning at 8:00 PM CT. I hope you brushed your teeth already.
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