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The NBA regular season has reached the home straight, with less than three weeks remaining. That means these two teams squaring off tonight are in the midst of a playoff push. The Oklahoma City Thunder, led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, are taking on the Sacramento Kings, who are getting healthy to make a playoff run. That makes this regular-season matchup extremely important for both of these teams. Throughout the rest of this article, we will review each team’s season and give our Thunder @ Kings NBA pick for this matchup.
The Oklahoma City Thunder have exceeded expectations this season. They have become one of the most exciting young teams in the league, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leading the way. SGA has been playing at an MVP level, showcasing his elite scoring, playmaking and defense. With a young core that includes players like Chet Holmgren, Jalen Williams and Isaiah Hartenstein, the Thunder have made significant strides, especially on the defensive end.
The Thunder are currently the top seed in the Western Conference and their performance against playoff-caliber teams has been impressive. Their offense runs through Gilgeous-Alexander, who scores efficiently and sets up teammates for easy looks. The development of their young players, coupled with an increasingly solid defense, has given them a fighting chance to make a deep run into the postseason and perhaps win their first NBA Championship.
The Kings’ season has been a turbulent one so far. They made the decision to part ways with head coach Mike Brown and promoted Doug Christie in his place. The shake-up didn’t stop there, as the team also traded point guard De’Aaron Fox to the San Antonio Spurs. In exchange, the Kings acquired Zach LaVine from the Chicago Bulls, bringing him together with DeMar DeRozan once again. However, shortly after the trade, things didn’t go as smoothly. Despite the ongoing challenges this season, the Kings have managed to stay in the mix for the Play-in Tournament and seem on track to secure at least that spot.
What sets the Kings apart is their fast-paced, high-scoring offensive strategy. Under the leadership of Doug Christie, they’ve developed an offensive system that keeps opposing defenses constantly on edge. With sharpshooters like Zach LaVine and Malik Monk creating space on the floor, the Kings have the ability to quickly rack up points. Domantas Sabonis and DeMar DeRozan also play key roles in running the offense. On the defensive side, while their performance has been inconsistent, they’ve shown signs of improvement, though they remain in the bottom 10 in defensive rating.
Currently, the Kings are well-positioned for a playoff spot. If they continue playing their unique style of basketball, they could be a serious contender in the postseason.
For this high-stakes matchup between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Sacramento Kings, one player that sticks out is Gilgeous-Alexander.
SGA has been one of the most consistent and explosive scorers in the league this season. He’s currently averaging over 32 points per game and has scored over 26.5 points in 17 of his last 25 games. Against a Kings defense that has struggled at times to contain elite scorers, SGA should be primed for another big night.
The Kings, although playing an up-tempo, high-scoring game, have also allowed their fair share of points to guards this season. Their defense, especially in transition and against high-level ball handlers, has been leaky and Gilgeous-Alexander thrives in both of those areas. He has the ability to get to the basket at will and is also a highly efficient mid-range shooter, making him a threat in multiple scoring areas.
While Sacramento’s offense has been their strength, their defense has been a significant weakness, ranking in the bottom 10 for defensive rating. The Kings’ defense has allowed opposing teams to exploit mismatches, particularly against versatile scorers like Gilgeous-Alexander. In their previous two matchups earlier this season, SGA averaged 33 points in a high-scoring affair and it’s safe to assume he will be the focal point of the Thunder’s offense again. With that said, our Thunder vs Kings pick is going to be for SGA to score 30+ points.
Dylan has had a love for sports since he was a kid. Four years ago, he decided to dive into the sports content-creating industry specializing in Fantasy Football, NFL and NBA. He has since had his work published on sites that include Fantasy Alarm, Fansided, and Fantasy Six Pack.