So, the Sacramento Kings are bad. Like, really bad. We knew this was probably going to be the case coming in, but starting 2-5 with four consecutive losses against mediocre competition is a pretty rough look. At the same time, it’s not as if opening the year with a five-game road-trip through the Eastern Conference is an easy way to hit the ground running, and some minor injuries have conspired against them, too.
The Kings coming in stumbling may be as much a threat as it is an opportunity, at least in the eyes of head coach Dwane Casey.
“We gotta come out with our work hats on. This team is going to come out with a lot of pride,” he said before the game. “We’ve gotta be ready to play. We can’t approach it any other way or look at last night’s score and think anything different.”
If they do that, it could be a pretty prompt and thorough beating. Smelling blood in the water is something the Raptors have struggled with in the past, though, so we’ll see how this goes on a lazy Sunday.
The game tips off at 6 p.m. on Sportsnet One and Sportsnet 590. Here’s the full game preview.
Raptors updates
Nothing to report here. Expect things to unfold as they have the last few games, with the lone remaining question mark in the rotation surrounding when and how often Norman Powell may spell DeMarre Carroll. With Carroll entrenched as the starter, DeMar DeRozan on fire, and Terrence Ross playing well off the bench, there isn’t a clear path to playing time right now. Powell’s done a good job being ready to jump when called upon, it’s just hard to tell when that might be.
“I trust Norm,” Casey said. “It’s not about trust, it’s about it’s hard to play 11 or 12 guys. It’s just a fact of him staying ready.”
The Kings are probably too big to go small against for the most part, which means a lot of time for Pascal Siakam, and Jakob Poeltl again. Which is cool, because they’re playing pretty well!
WOAH UPDATE: Jonas Valanciunas is out on short notice. He’s dealing with a left knee contusion. The team isn’t sure exactly when it happened – he played through it Friday and practiced Saturday – and while Valanciunas wanted to play through it again here, the team opted to take it safe with a swollen knee. Shocking, right?
PG: Kyle Lowry, Cory Joseph, Fred VanVleet
SG: DeMar DeRozan, Norman Powell
SF: DeMarre Carroll, Terrence Ross
PF: Patrick Patterson, Pascal Siakam, Bruno Caboclo
C: Jakob Poeltl, Lucas Nogueira
OUT: Delon Wright, Jared Sullinger, Jonas Valanciunas
Kings updates
The Rudy Gay Revenge Game probably won’t get a chance to take place, as the former Raptor is doubtful with a rib strain. He’s going to warm up and see how it goes, but Dave Joerger didn’t sound very confident before the game. Check back before tip-off for confirmation.
Anthony Tolliver joins him on the sidelines with a knee injury. So no Not This Guy Again and no Pop the Tolli. What am I gonna do for puns?
UPDATE: Gay says he’s going to play!
PG: Ty Lawson, Jordan Farmar
SG: Arron Afflalo, Ben McLemore, Garrett Temple
SF: Rudy Gay, Omri Casspi, Matt Barnes, Malachi Richardson
PF: Kosta Koufos, Skal Labissiere
C: Future Raptor DeMarcus Cousins, Willie Cauley-Stein, Georgios Papagiannis
OUT: Darren Collison (suspension), Anthony Tolliver
Assorted
- Bruno Caboclo was recalled from Raptors 905 after practicing with them yesterday. He was not with them for their preseason opener at Hershey Centre.
- The 905 won. Brady Heslip sat with a sore shoulder, and Jarrod Uthoff looked good.
- Not much else to report from the ACC. It’s a pretty quiet Sunday, all things considered. But hey, it’s your boy:
“He’s matured a lot & the game is slowing down for him. He’s just got to continue to be consistent.” – Casey on the positive play of TRoss. pic.twitter.com/JYtoP4pUm8
— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) November 6, 2016
The line
The Raptors are 9.5-point favorites at home, which feels about right given the Kings are shorthanded and on the second night of a back-to-back as part of a tough road trip. Even with that large a line, one I normally wouldn’t touch, I’d hit the Raptors. The Kings are in a bit of disarray right now, they’re tired, and Toronto is in a pretty nice groove on the defensive end of the floor. This will be a nice test to see if the Raptors have the “put them away” gear they sometimes lacked last season.
Raptors 104, Kings 90
