PORTLAND -- The end is upon us. After 81 games, the Sacramento Kings have one final match scheduled for Wednesday evening at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon. They’ll face a Trail Blazers team headed for the playoffs for a sixth consecutive season.
While the Kings fell short of their ultimate goal of making the NBA’s postseason tournament, it has been a quality season for the young Kings. At 39 wins, Sacramento surpassed all expectations and posted the most wins for the franchise since the 2005-06 campaign.
With one game left on the docket, there is still plenty of intrigue. Here is are five things to look for as the Kings conclude the 2018-19 season.
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Lillard vs. Fox
De’Aaron Fox has stated more than once that Damian Lillard is his toughest matchup. In one battle last season, Lillard roasted the Kings’ starting point guard for 50 points on 8-of-13 shooting from long range in just 29 minutes of action. The competition was so unbalanced, Lillard sat out the fourth quarter of the 118-100 victory by the Blazers
In two games this year, Lillard is averaging 30 points, 5.5 assists and 4.5 rebounds against the Fox and the Kings, although the two teams have split the season series.
If Fox is going to climb higher up the ranks of NBA point guards next season, he is going to have to fare better against players like Lillard.
NBA
[RELATED: Lillard rips Joerger]
600
Buddy Hield is on the brink of setting a new mark for 3-point makes. He’s currently tied with Lillard for the NBA record with 599 3-pointers through the first three years of his career.
Hield has the advantage of living in the golden age of 3-point shooting. Not only is he knocking down a tremendous amount of long balls, but he’s also hitting at an incredible clip.
The 26-year-old shooting guard is hitting 42.6 percent on eight attempts game. His 275 makes this season is amongst the top 10 all-time and he’s having a breakout season, posting a team-high 20.8 points per game.
End of an Era?
Since being selected with the sixth pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, center Willie Cauley-Stein has started 198 games for the Kings, including 80 this season. He’s in the final year of his rookie contract and there are no promises the 7-footer will return for another tour of duty in Sacramento.
Cauley-Stein’s athleticism and ability to run the floor are tantalizing. His inability to bring the same energy and production night in and night out have drawn the ire of plenty both inside and outside the walls of Golden 1 Center. He’s posted 12 points, 8.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.2 steals in 27.4 minutes per game this season for the Kings.
[RELATED: Source: Cauley-Stein away from the team]
General Manager Vlade Divac has the option of extending a $6.3 million qualifying offer to the 25-year-old big and seeing where the market takes them. But this very well could be his last game in a Kings uniform.
Rookie Rampage
Luka Doncic and Trae Young are getting all of the fanfare, but Kings rookie, Marvin Bagley III is putting together an strong freshman campaign as well. Since returning from injury, the 20-year-old power forward has scored in double-figures 14 straight games and posted six double-doubles over the stretch.
On the season, Bagley is averaging 14.8 points and 7.6 rebounds in 25.2 minutes per game. He’s missed 20 contests due to injury and spent another 10 games on minutes restrictions.
Bagley’s talent is undeniable. He has one more shot to showcase his abilities against a veteran Trail Blazers frontline.
Chasing 40
When the Kings failed to reach the playoffs, they talked of recalibrating their expectations and pushing for a .500 season. With Sunday’s loss to the New Orleans Pelicans, that goal has been thrown out the window as well.
This is the 13th straight season the Kings have missed the playoffs. Rick Adelman was the last coach to reach the 40-win plateau. It’s not the team’s first or even second choice for an accomplishment, but 40 wins would still be nice.