Kings vs. Thunder: Pregame Primer

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Sacramento Kings (7-14, 1-8 road) vs. OKC Thunder (18-4, 12-2 home)

TV: FSOK (Cox 37, HD 722, Tulsa Cox 27, DirectTV 679, UVerse 754)
Stream: Click here
Radio: WWLS The Sports Animal (98.1 FM, 640 AM, 97.1 FM Tulsa)
Time: 7:00 CT

Offensive Rating: Thunder – 113.7 (1st), Kings– 101.2 (27th)
Defensive Rating: Thunder – 103.7 (11th), Kings – 107.0 (23rd)
Pace: Thunder – 91.9 (18th), Kings – 92.0 (13th)

View from the enemy: Cowbell Kingdom

Note: Today sucks, big time. And basketball seems so comically small and irrelevant right now. Keep that in mind while you’re griping about Perk or whatever tonight.

Considering how Wednesday’s game against the Hornets went, it’s obvious: This isn’t to be taken lightly. The Kings aren’t good, but they do have a little talent and with the Thunder’s last two slow starts, eventually that kind of thing is going to come back to bite them.

Sacramento coming in: Lost to the Bucks on Wednesday.

Three Big Things

1. Rebounding. The Kings have some strong offensive rebounders inside with DeMarcus Cousins, Jason Thompson and Thomas Robinson. The Kings have size and strength. Statistically, they aren’t great on the glass, but they certainly have the ability.

2. Pace. The Thunder have been playing abnormally slow as of late. It hasn’t been really a bad thing, but there hasn’t been a whole lot of quick play. The more opportunities in transition, the better. A few easy buckets can get everyone in a rhythm and a flow and open things up.

3. It’s me, not you. This is about the Thunder, not the Kings. If the Thunder are to slip up, it’ll be on them.

Tip at 7:00 CT. Go Prayers.