Thunder vs. Kings: Pregame Primer

vs.

OKC Thunder (33-10, 14-7 road) at Sacramento Kings (16-27, 12-11 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: 9:00 CT

Offensive Rating: Thunder – 112.8 (1st), Kings– 105.0 (13th)
Defensive Rating: Thunder – 103.5 (8th), Kings – 111.4 (30th)
Pace: Thunder – 92.7 (8th), Kingss – 91.7 (1th)

View from the enemy: Cowbell Kingdom

If the Thunder are going to get home with a successful 4-2 road trip record, they can’t lose again. But they really shouldn’t be losing again anyway, especially tonight against the Kings. We already know the Thunder are capable of not showing up — cough Wizards cough — but for the most part, they do. The Kings are bad, the Thunder are not and despite being a little road weary, OKC should have its business tonight.

Sacramento coming in: The Kings last played Wednesday, losing to the Suns.

Three Big Things

1. Cousins. He’s really the only danger man for the Kings. He can take over a game with his interior presence and own the boards. Both Perk and Serge Ibaka will have their hands full tonight with him.

2. Russ. He played a bad game against the Warriors going 3-16 with six turnovers. He needs to bounce back, and tonight would be an ideal time to do it. The Kings are light in their backcourt and don’t have great weapons to match up with Westbrook.

3. Show up. That’s it. Most important thing. Don’t turn it over like crazy, don’t play lazy defense and knock down the good looks. Do all that and this should be a pretty simple evening.

Tip at 9:00 CT. Go SuperThunder.