Thunder Gameday: OKC Thunder Continue In-Season Tournament in Sacramento
The Oklahoma City Thunder will resume In-Season Tournament play against the Sacramento Kings Friday night in a Group C matchup.
Oklahoma City is coming off a big win over the Cleveland Cavaliers at home, and have been one of the NBA's most efficient offenses so far this season. Currently, the Thunder is tied with the Dallas Mavericks in 3-point percentage at 39.3%.
The Kings made their first playoff run since 2006 last season, led by the All-Star duo of De'Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis. While heading into the game with a below .500 record, Sacramento is still expected to be a playoff team by April, and will be a formidable opponent.
Domantas Sabonis puts up a layup over Luguentz Dort
Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports
ODDS:
The Thunder enter the day as 2.5-point underdogs to the Kings, and the total over/under is 232.5 points.
KEYS TO THE GAME:
Fox and Sabonis were one of the best duos in the NBA last season, making for a tough assignment for any team. The pair of Luguentz Dort and Cason Wallace will primarily defend Fox if he plays, while rookie Chet Holmgren will face off against a physical Sabonis at the center position.
It's another tough test for Holmgren, and it will be interesting to see how he rebounds compared to one of the best rebounders in the league in Sabonis, who is averaging nearly 13 rebounds per game this season. Oklahoma is currently 25th in rebounds per game while Sacramento is 16th, which is a potential issue that could be exploited by the Kings.
The Thunder have the advantage from behind the arc, as the previously mentioned 39.3% from three beats out Sacramento's 32.5% by a large margin. Continuing to shoot the way it has will make Oklahoma City tough to beat, especially against a Kings roster struggling to score from the outside.
RECORDS:
Oklahoma City Thunder (5-3) at Sacramento Kings (3-4)
INJURIES:
Check out our live injury tracker, along with our game day injury report that will release later today.
WHEN:
Friday, Nov. 10 at 9:00 PM CT
LOCATION:
Golden 1 Center – Sacramento, CA
TV/RADIO:
Bally Sports Oklahoma, NBA League Pass, 98.1 FM The Sports Animal
FINAL WORD:
Oklahoma City has another chance at gaining a big victory, especially in attempting to gain its first In-Season Tournament win after the controversial loss to the Golden State Warriors. De'Aaron Fox is listed as a game-time decision, so it's a possibility the Kings could be without one of their co-stars.
After Sacramento, the Thunder will head to Phoenix to face off against the Suns on Saturday, Nov. 12 at 7:00 p.m. CT.
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