Kings vs. Lakers Preview: Can Sacramento play spoiler again?

With 10 games left in the regular season, the Sacramento Kings are 5.5 games back of the No. 10 seed, which means a late push for a play-in spot is unlikely. That’s especially true now that De’Aaron Fox and Harrison Barnes will be out for at least a few more games.

For that reason, losing as many games as possible would be in the Kings’ best interest, but before they join the race to the bottom, they can play spoiler one last time against their bitter rivals, the Los Angeles Lakers, on Friday.

The Kings lost their game to the Lakers by 21 points, but they narrowly beat them 123-120 in March. If the Kings beat the Lakers again on Friday, it will be their first win in the season series since the 2015-16, when they swept Los Angeles.

The tank beckons, yes, but she can wait one more game.

Game Information

Where: Staples Center, Los Angeles, California

When: Friday, April 30 at 7:30 p.m. PT

How to watch/listen: NBA TV, NBC Sports California, KHTK Sports 1140 AM

Opposing perspective: Silver Screen and Roll

Projected Starting Lineups

Kings (25-37): Tyrese Haliburton, Buddy Hield, Moe Harkless, Chimezie Metu, Richaun Holmes

Lakers (36-26): Dennis Schröder, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Andre Drummond

Injuries/Absences

Kings: Robert Woodard II (low back soreness), Harrison Barnes (groin), De’Aaron Fox (health and safety protocols) — OUT

Lakers: Alex Caruso (back spasms), Jared Dudley (knee) — OUT