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Preview: Trail Blazers v. Kings, 3 PM

04/14/12

  1. Written by: caseyholdahl



    The end of the regular season is less than two weeks away, and if the Portland Trail Blazers (28-32) are to have any chance at the post season, they'll have to beat the Kings in Sacramento Sunday afternoon. Tipoff is scheduled for 3 PM on CSNW 37 and 750 AM The Game.

    Sunday afternoon's game is one of the few times you can can label a contest as a "must-win" without exaggeration. The Trail Blazers currently sit at 11th in the Western Conference table, 15.5 games back from first and 4.5 games behind Houston and Denver for the eighth and final playoff spot. Portland would also have to pass both Utah at 31-29 and Phoenix at 31-28 to get into the eighth spot with six games to play. Every team in the Western standings below Portland has been eliminated from contention.

    That is true of the Kings, who have lost seven in a row and eight of their last ten. Much of the focus in Sacramento has turned away from the court, as news of a reported deal ,l which would have ensured the Kings remaining in California's capital city, fell through despite assistance from NBA Commissioner David Stern.

    "Despite best efforts to negotiate an agreement with the City of Sacramento," read a statement from the Kings, "and at the conclusion of a meeting this afternoon with Mayor Johnson, he advised us that there is nothing to be gained by continued discussions at this time."

    The statement also reiterated their desire to remain in Sacramento.

    LaMarcus Aldridge will not be in Sacramento for Sunday's game. Aldridge, who is sidelined for the remainder of the season with a small tear in the labrum of his right hip, is reportedly returning to his offseason home in Dallas before returning for the final regular season home game of the year against the Jazz on Wednesday.

    "I’m really disappointed," said Aldridge of missing the rest of the season. "I feel like we have a really good group of guys here. I feel like everybody’s getting better. I feel like we’re starting to find a really good rhythm together. So it’s definitely hard to do it right now."

    J.J. Hickson, starting in place of Aldridge, has averaged 12.7 points and 8.1 rebounds in the last seven games, and is coming off of two straight double double performances.

    -----------------------------

    ALL TIME:     Trail Blazers lead, 115-71
    IN PORTLAND: Trail Blazers lead, 76-17
    AT KINGS: Kings lead, 54-39
    LAST PORTLAND WIN: 101-89, 1/23/12 (Por.)
    LAST SACRAMENTO WIN: 95-92, 2/2/12 (Sac.)
    CURRENT WIN STREAK: None

    • Portland has taken two out of the three meetings with Sacramento this season. The Trail Blazers saw their five-game winning streak at Sacramento snapped with the three-point loss to the Kings on Feb. 2.

    • After last season’s 94-90 overtime win in Sacramento on Jan. 19, the Trail Blazers are 14-3 all-time against the Kings in games that require overtime.

    • Nicolas Batum averaged 19.0 points (57.1% FG) in three games against Sacramento last season, his second-best scoring average against any team in 2010-11. He averaged 15.3 points in three games against Sacramento in 2009-10, which was also his second-best average against any opponent that season (minimum two games). Batum has averaged 13.4 points in nine career games against the Kings, more than four points better than his career scoring average (9.1).

    • Eight Kings players averaged at least 9.0 points in their appearances vs. the Trail Blazers last season. In two games, Tyreke Evans posted averages of 21.0 points (55.2% FG 7.0 assists and 2.50 steals.

    • The Trail Blazers notched a 30-19 advantage in steals against the Kings last season Portland scored 61 points off of 53 turnovers by Sacramento in three games last season while the Kings converted 44 Trail Blazer errors into 51 points.

    • Despite Portland winning two of three matchups last season, the Kings shot better from the field (48.5%-42.9%) and averaged more points than the Trail Blazers (96.0-94.0)
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