NBA Gameday: Kings vs Kings the matchup to watch against Heat

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SACRAMENTO -- The Sacramento Kings open a seven-game homestand Wednesday night against a completely depleted Miami Heat squad. Both teams are playing the second night of a back-to-back, but Miami had just eight healthy bodies in their 99-90 loss to the Suns on Tuesday night and they might not have any more than that against the Kings.

Sacramento is coming off an impressive road win in Denver. They used a team effort to come away with a 120-113 win, highlighted by season-high scoring performances from Darren Collison, Arron Afflalo and Kosta Koufos. With the win, the Kings hold a game lead over the Portland Trail Blazers for the eighth seed in the Western Conference playoff race.

The Heat are struggling through their early schedule. They’ve lost six straight and 9-of-10 heading into Wednesday night’s matchup in Sacramento. Veteran point guard Goran Dragic is having a solid season, averaging 19 points and 6.8 assists, but he needs more help if the Heat have any chance of taking down the Kings at home.

OPENING LINE

Kings by 8.5

MATCHUP TO WATCH

Kings vs. Kings -- The Miami Heat have eight or nine healthy bodies coming into Tuesday night’s game. Regular starters Whiteside, Winslow and Waiters are out for sure, leaving Goran Dragic and possibly Tyler Johnson with a makeshift group. No excuses. Sacramento would have been favored over a healthy Heat team. If they lose this one, no more playoff talk for a month.    

WHERE THEY STAND

Kings: 15-19, third place in Pacific

Heat: 10-26, last place in Southeast

INJURY REPORT

Kings: PG Ty Lawson (fractured sinus/blurry vision) questionable, F Rudy Gay (hip flexor) questionable.

Heat: F Chris Bosh (blood clots) out, F Josh McRoberts (foot) out, Hassan Whiteside (eye) out, SF Justise Winslow (shoulder) out, SG Dion Waiters (groin) out, G Tyler Johnson (migraine) did not play Tuesday in Phoenix, F James Johnson (illness) did not play Tuesday in Phoenix.

SERIES HISTORY

Sacramento has lost five straight to the Heat, including a brutal 108-96 overtime stumble on Nov. 11 in Miami. The Heat hold a 39-17 advantage all-time over the Kings.  

QUOTE

“I’ll be the first one to say that we’re not a perfect team. We’re not a team that’s going to come out and blow out teams on a nightly basis, but we have to come and approach games the right way on a nightly basis. We got to grind it out, we’ve got to play together, we’ve got to defend at a high level all four quarters or games are going to be tough to win.” -DeMarcus Cousins following the Kings win over the Nuggets on Tuesday night

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