The Sacramento Kings aim for a preseason trifecta Saturday evening as they take on the Washington Wizards. With a host of former Kentucky Wildcats on both squads, the Kings and Wizards square off inside Rupp Arena in an exhibition battle surely to excite the masses of Big Blue Nation.
Head Coach Dave Joerger has tinkered with his lineup over the course of the Kings preseason slate. As veterans like DeMarcus Cousins, Ty Lawson and Garrett Temple got some rest, Sacramento ran with a tight nine-man rotation in the victory over the Los Angeles Lakers Thursday evening. Joerger will likely continue to test out different combinations in tonight’s game versus Washington.
Fresh off a victory over the Philadelphia 76ers, Washington enters the contest with a 2-2 record. For the Wizards, all eyes will be on All-Star guard John Wall, who is recovering from offseason surgery on both knees. As a result, the 26-year-old has seen limited playing time during preseason as new head coach Scott Brooks monitors Wall’s progress. The Kentucky alum has appeared in the Wizards last two exhibition outings after sitting out the first two.
Key Matchup
Over the course of the preseason, Arron Afflalo has been the one constant in the Kings lineup. Expect his defensive savvy to be tested this evening against Bradley Beal. The 23-year-old shooting guard has led the Wizards in scoring this preseason, averaging 15 points per contest.
Projected Starters
With Big Blue Madness in full effect, the Kings may feature a starting frontline of Cousins, Willie Cauley-Stein and rookie Skal Labissiere. In the backcourt, Ty Lawson and Arron Afflalo will likely round out the starting unit.
Broadcast Information
The game will not be broadcast on TV, but Kings fans can listen to all the action on Sports 1140 KHTK Radio. Be sure to also follow Kings.com with live updates and postgame content on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Snapchat.
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