Two teams eager to shed their early-season struggles will clash when the Sacramento Kings host the Minnesota Timberwolves in an NBA Cup group stage game on Friday night.
Minnesota lost its third straight game and second in a row to the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday. The Timberwolves shot 7-for-39 (17.9 percent) from 3-point range in the 106-98 defeat, with All-Star guard Anthony Edwards going 0-for-9 from beyond the arc.
Minnesota played without starting point guard Mike Conley, who was rested in the second half of a back-to-back. The 37-year-old is expected to be available against Sacramento.
The Kings are looking to build on Wednesday’s encouraging performance against the Phoenix Suns. De’Aaron Fox led the way with 29 points, six rebounds, and 10 assists in the 127-104 victory.
Sacramento, which entered the game ranked last in the NBA in 3-point shooting at 30.1 percent, was 15-of-28 (53.6 percent) from beyond the arc against the Suns. Keegan Murray made three 3-pointers and also helped limit Suns star Devin Booker to 18 points on 6-of-16 shooting.
The Kings are monitoring the status of guard DeMar DeRozan, who exited Wednesday’s game at halftime due to lower back tightness and did not return. DeRozan reportedly did not practice Thursday and is listed as doubtful.
Sacramento hopes to avenge a season-opening 117-115 loss to Minnesota on October 24. Julius Randle scored 33 points to lead the Timberwolves, who won after Edwards made two free throws with 2.4 seconds remaining.
The Timberwolves are 5-5 since that victory and are still figuring out how to best integrate Randle and Donte DiVincenzo, who were acquired from the New York Knicks before the season for Karl-Anthony Towns.
Minnesota center Rudy Gobert acknowledged the need to set a stronger defensive tone following Wednesday’s loss to Portland, but the team has several other concerns as well.
Instead of looking to the coaches for solutions, Randle emphasized that the players need to figure out a way to emerge from the team’s early-season struggles.
