Kings vs. Wizards Preview: LAST RITES

Sacramento Kings at Washington Wizards
4 p.m. Pacific on Comcast SportsNet California

The Kings have one last game on this road trip, one last opportunity to get a win. Only 2 percent of us thought the Kings would go winless on the six-game trip before it began. Another 9 percent called a 1-5 record. The other 89 percent thought Sacramento would win multiple games. Whoops! (I picked 3-3, for the record. Seriously: whoops.)

This trip hasn't been too depressing, in all honesty. The Kings have been in every game in the fourth quarter, save the Knicks' obliteration. They competed hard against the Bulls and Heat, two of the league's three best teams. These losses are been far, far different than the ones the Kings suffered on the road early this season, ones in which Sacramento was killed by 20, 25, 30 points with regularity. This is progress. It's fruitless, in the end, but it's progress.

A win sure would be nice, though. Luckily, the Wizards are by far the worst opponent on this trip -- a good step below even the Pistons. The 'Zards are 3-8 in February ... and that's been the team's good month. (They were 4-14 in January.) Washington is not strong at home, just 4-12 at the Phone Booth with a -6.1 average margin. The Kings, of course, are -11.7 per game on the road ... so ... yeah. But in eight February road games, the Kings are only -4.8 on the road. Progress!

John Wall vs. Isaiah Thomas is a huge match-up to watch, and the Kings needs DeMarcus Cousins to bounce back and pound shotblocker JaVale McGee. The Wizards struggle to score, but struggle even more to defend, so Sacramento has a shot at continuing Tuesday's awesome offensive output.

Game's at 4. Game threads are set for 4 and 5:30. Let's go Kings!