Preview: San Antonio Spurs vs. Sacramento Kings – Game #12
Keldon Johnson and the Spurs take on the Kings (Photo via Twitter)
The San Antonio Spurs will attempt to stop the bleeding tonight when they host the Sacramento Kings in the Frost Bank Center. The Spurs have lost six straight games after beginning the season with a record of 3-2. San Antonio is also only 1-4 at home so far in the 2023-24 campaign.
The Kings enter tonight’s game with a record of 6-4. Following a slow start to their season, they’ve won four straight games. Their three most recent wins (versus the Los Angeles Lakers, Cleveland Cavaliers and Oklahoma City Thunder) have been especially impressive. Sacramento is led by All-Star De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis. Fox is averaging 30 points and 5.8 assists in five games, while Sabonis is averaging 19.1 points, 12.8 rebounds and 7.3 assists in ten games.
San Antonio Spurs Injury Update
At the beginning of the season, the Spurs didn’t have to deal with any injuries. Unfortunately, the injury bug is buzzing around South Texas. Tre Jones will miss another game tonight due to a hamstring injury. It’ll be the third straight game he’ll be forced to miss due to injury.
The other injury news today for the Spurs is even worse. Devin Vassell, who missed time earlier in the season with an adductor injury, is out versus the Kings with an adductor injury. If Vassell is forced to sit out multiple games, that’ll be very bad news for the Spurs.
Thankfully, Keldon Johnson, Jeremy Sochan and Sandro Mamukelashvili will be able to play. Johnson and Mamukelashvili missed last game due to injury, while Sochan has been iffy before recent games.
San Antonio Spurs Starting Lineup
We can safely say that head coach Gregg Popovich will start Victor Wembanyama at power forward, Zach Collins at center, Keldon Johnson at small forward and Jeremy Sochan at point guard. The two most likely choices for Popovich to start at shooting guard are Malaki Branham and Julian Champagnie. Both Branham and Champagnie have started games this year due to injuries.
Betting Guide: Spurs vs. Kings
The Kings are favored by 8.5 points and the over/under is currently at 238.5 points. The smart money is on the Spurs. Yes, being without Devin Vassell and Tre Jones will hurt but San Antonio hasn’t played since Tuesday and they should be primed to have one of their better performances of the season. The recent embarrassing losses should have Popovich and the Spurs ready to keep this game within at least eight points.