Kings vs. Warriors: Search for chemistry, Butler trade, Kuminga injury, 3 things to watch
The Kings will continue the search for chemistry and continuity when they return from the All-Star break to face Steph Curry, Jimmy Butler and the Golden State Warriors on Friday at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento.
The Kings are still integrating new players after acquiring Zach LaVine, Jonas Valanciunas and Jake LaRavia ahead of the NBA trade deadline. They made another move last week when they signed Markelle Fultz, a former No. 1 overall pick, adding point guard depth after trading De’Aaron Fox to the San Antonio Spurs.
The Kings (28-27) won three in a row before suffering a 140-133 overtime loss to the New Orleans Pelicans in their last game before the break. They are ninth in the Western Conference, three games behind the Los Angeles Clippers for the No. 6 seed and an automatic playoff berth.
The Warriors (28-27) are 3-1 since acquiring Butler in the trade that sent Andrew Wiggins, Kyle Anderson, Dennis Schroder, Lindy Waters III and a first-round draft pick to the Miami Heat. Jonathan Kuminga has returned to practice after missing 21 games with a right ankle sprain, but he has been ruled out for Friday’s game against the Kings.
The Kings and Warriors have identical records, but the Kings hold the tiebreaker by virtue of their 2-0 lead in the season series.
Here are three things to watch in Friday’s game.
Chemistry test
The Kings reconvened in Sacramento on Wednesday and held a spirited practice Thursday, giving them much-needed court time with their new teammates.
LaVine said one practice won’t produce the kind of chemistry and cohesiveness teams develop in training camp, but it should be beneficial as they try to adjust on the fly.
The Kings have to tighten up their game at both ends of the floor. In their first seven games without Fox, they ranked 11th in the NBA in scoring (119.0 ppg), 12th in field-goal percentage (.477), 16th in assists (26.4), 21st in 3-point shooting (.346) and 28th in turnovers (15.3). Defensively, they ranked 24th in opponent points per game (116.0) and 29th in opponent 3-point percentage (.377).
Curry and Butler
The Warriors are 16-24 in their last 40 games, but they’ve won three of four since acquiring Butler.
Curry led the team in scoring in all four games. He averaged 31.0 points while shooting 45.7% from the field and 39.7% from 3-point range.
Butler averaged 21.3 points, 7.0 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 1.3 steals. He shot just 44.6% from the field and an unsightly 14.3% from 3-point range, but he converted 85% of his free throws while going to the line 10.0 times per game.
Fultz could make debut
Fultz suited up but did not play after joining the Kings in New Orleans for their final game before the All-Star break. He could make his debut against the Warriors.
The 26-year-old point guard has been plagued by injuries throughout his career, but he told The Sacramento Bee he is healthier than he has been since entering the league as the No. 1 pick in the 2017 draft.
Fultz is a 6-foot-4 point guard with a 6-9 ½ wingspan and a reputation for defense. He has averaged 11.1 points, 3.4 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 1.2 steals over seven NBA seasons with the Philadelphia 76ers and Orlando Magic. He hasn’t played a game since May 5 when Orlando lost to the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 7 of a first-round playoff series.
Warriors at Kings
When: 7 p.m.
Where: Golden 1 Center
TV: NBC Sports California
Radio: Sactown Sports 1140
Odds: Warriors -2.5
Over/under: 236.5
Injury report
Warriors: OUT— Yuri Collins (G League); Jonathan Kuminga (ankle).
Kings: OUT — None.
This story was originally published February 21, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
