Tag: San Antonio Spurs

Despite Slow Start, Sacramento Takes Care of Business in Los Angeles 130-120

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Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis (3) defends and the Sacramento Kings guard De’Aaron Fox (5) tries to get the shot in first half action at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Wed Mar 6, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

The Sacramento Kings (35-26) had a horrible start in the first quarter of their game against the Los Angeles Lakers (34-30). It was like night and day between the opening quarter and the second quarter. Sacramento won the second quarter 44-20 and they kept their foot on the pedal for the rest of the game. The Lakers challenged at times but the Kings held on for the 130-120 win at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.

Game recap: Wednesday night the Kings take on the Lakers in Los Angeles looking to get back on track. The Kings are currently in seventh place in the Western Conference while the Lakers are in ninth place with only a game and a half separating the two teams.

Both will be playing for the win trying to avoid the dreaded play-in game. Sacramento needs to get a strong start, and most of all they need to finish strong and keep an eye on those turnovers.

They had 18 turnovers in the Chicago game. The Kings will be playing with a full roster while the Lakers will be missing at least three players with Cabe Vincent, Jarred Vanderbilt and Christian Wood out with injury.

There is also an outside possibility that LeBron James and Anthony Davis may not play now being listed as questionable. The Kings are 2-0 against the Lakers this season. This game carries major importance for both teams and it will no doubt prove to be a battle.

The Kings did not get the start they wanted with three turnovers, one unforced, in the early minutes of the first quarter. It was an ugly start for Sacramento. They looked to be completely out of sync and needed to generate some second chance shots as well as more efficient offense.

The Lakers continued to cruise leading 30-13 with four minutes left in the opening quarter. The Kings had fouled six times, the Lakers had a single foul and the Kings had ground to make up going into the second quarter trailing 28-37. The Kings did close the quarter with a 10-0 run after trailing by 19 points and Sacramento was starting to come around.

The Kings turned up the pace to start the second quarter cutting the Laker’s lead to six points 40-34. Malik Monk entered the game bringing his trademark energy as this game began to turn in favor of Sacramento.

With six minutes left in the half, the Kings had tied up this game at 48 and seconds later taken the lead 50-48. Monk was making incredible decisions shooting for 17 points in 13 minutes and Sacramento had it all going on.

Monk had really spear-headed this King’s comeback. With less than two minutes left in the second quarter the Kings had taken a 64-51 lead in this turnaround. Sacramento had sucked the energy out of Crypto.com Arena. At the half the Kings had taken a 72-57 lead. They had a 44 point quarter and won the second quarter by a landslide 44-20.

De’Aaron Fox finished the first half with 20 points closely followed by Malik Monk with 19. The Kings had really turned the triples around hitting 10 of 20. Davion Mitchell was a perfect 4 of 4 from downtown. Sacramento would need more of this intensity in the second half.

The Lakers put together a 9-2 run to win the third quarter 35-32. The Kings lead had been cut but every time the Lakers challenged, the Kings answered continuing to maintain a double digit lead going into the fourth quarter. Sacramento needed to hang onto the lead, they needed to finish this game. With only a 12 point lead, the Lakers were within striking distance.

Los Angeles continued to push and the Kings pushed right back taking a 21 point lead 118-97 four minutes into the fourth quarters. The Laker’s continued to hang around cutting the King’s lead to 12 points 120-108 with under five minutes left in the game.

With under three minutes left on the clock this game became clutch; Sacramento had to finish this game. The Kings refused to let this game go winning 130-120.

This was the third straight win over the Lakers for the Kings this season. Fox had the high for the game with 44 points. Off the bench, Monk really got this game going in favor of Sacramento in the second quarter finishing with 26 points.

There was another triple double for Domantas Sabonis with 20 rebounds, 12 assists and 16 points. This guy never ceases to amaze. After the slow start, the Kings started to play lights out basketball and hung on for the win.

Every starter for the Lakers had double digits but they could not match the play of the Kings tonight.

Post game notes: There is so much going for the Kings right now. Sabonis leads the league in rebounding, double-doubles and triple-doubles. He has 43 consecutive double doubles right now. The Kings have an ace on the bench who just may be the leading candidate for sixth man this season in Monk.

Of course the Kings also have clutch player in Fox who is supported by the above mentioned along with Keegan Murray, Harrison Barnes and Kevin Huerter. With so much talent their win/loss pattern is sometimes confusing. Last Friday Sacramento beat the first place Minnesota Timberwolves 124-120. They went on to lose to the Chicago Bulls after leading for all but the final minute of play. The team managed to turn the ball over three times in the final 1 1/2 minutes missing critical baskets. They couldn’t close out this game.

As the season begins to wind down every game is critical. Thursday night, the Kings take on the San Antonio Spurs at Golden 1 Center. The Spurs have struggled all season holding down last place in the West. San Antonio comes into this game looking to play spoiler and Sacramento needs to respond. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:00 PM.

Sacramento Kings podcast with Jeremiah Salmonson: Kings get five point win over Spurs 127-122; Sabonis scores 19th triple double

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San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) is guarded by the Sacramento Kings forward Keegan Murray (1) first half at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento on Thu Feb 22, 2024 (AP News photo)

On the Sacramento Kings podcast with Jeremiah:

#1 The Sacramento Kings Domantas Sabonis picked up his 19th triple double with 22 points, 11 assists, and 11 rebounds. He can do it all the Kings win over the San Antonio Spurs at Golden 1 on Thursday night.

#2 Sabonis almost sat this one out he was put in as a game time decision and was not feeling well but you would have never known it he wound up picking up his fourth triple double in five games.

#3 Sabonis has a double double in 38 consecutive games. Kings teammate De’Aaron Fox said that you don’t want to become numb of what Sabonis is doing that what he’s doing has been done just a few times in basketball.

#4 Fox said that at this point of the season you want wins and to get them any way you can and the Kings were able to execute down the stretch and it was a big win for Sacramento.

#5 The Kings are in Los Angeles to tip off against the Los Angeles Clippers at Crypto.com Arena Sun Feb 25th at 6:30pm PT. The Clippers are third in the Western Conference and have won six of their last ten games. They can be a handful.

Join Jeremiah for the Sacramento Kings podcast Fridays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Kings Reign Supreme: Sabonis’ Heroics Propel Sacramento Past Spurs 127-122

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The Sacramento Kings Domantas Sabonis dunks on the San Antonio Spurs at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento on Thu Feb 22, 2024 (photo by Mauricio Segura Sports Radio Service)

Kings Reign Supreme: Sabonis’ Heroics Propel Sacramento Past Spurs 127-122

By Mauricio Segura

SACRAMENTO–In a showdown that resulted in a“ Light The Beam” winning chant, The Sacramento Kings defeated the San Antonio Spurs 127-122 with an electrifying final seconds surge. Despite grappling with illness and missing practice, Domantas Sabonis, defied the odds by clinching his 19th triple-double, cementing his stature as a dominant force on the court.

Sabonis’ tenacity, combined with De’Aaron Fox’s explosive 28-point performance, propelled the Kings to a hard-earned home victory.

This marked Sabonis’ fourth triple-double in five games, showcasing his unwavering determination and exceptional skills. Additionally, Sabonis extended his streak of double-doubles to an impressive 38 consecutive games, further highlighting his pivotal role in the Kings’ success.

Contributions from Kevin Huerter and Malik Monk, who each added 21 points, bolstered Sacramento’s momentum, leaving the Spurs struggling to keep pace.

Nevertheless, the Spurs had their standout performers too. Devin Vassell led San Antonio with a 32-point performance and six assists.

Despite Vassell’s remarkable display, Victor Wembanyama’s valiant effort, registering 19 points, 13 rebounds, five steals, and four blocks, fell short in the winding seconds of the game. Keldon Johnson also made a significant impact with 18 points, 12 of which came during a spirited fourth-quarter surge.

The game was characterized by momentum swings, with the Kings taking control in the second quarter, outscoring the Spurs 35-25 to establish a halftime lead. Though the Spurs briefly seized the lead in the third quarter, the Kings displayed dominance, embarking on a decisive 9-0 run to seal the win.

Despite shooting an impressive 56% from the field, the Kings recognized the importance of executing crucial plays during clutch moments, a sentiment echoed by Fox, who stressed the significance during his post-game talk, of securing victories as the season progresses.

The most exciting time of the NBA season is shortly approaching, where each game assumes greater significance, with teams vying for playoff contention. For the Kings, their triumph over the Spurs underscores their determination and sets the stage for an enthralling run toward the postseason.

Sacramento Kings podcast with Tony Renteria: Kings open second half of season against Spurs Thursday at Golden 1

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The Denver Nuggets forward Justin Holiday (9) holds the ball above his head and away from the Sacramento Kings guard Kevin Huerter (9) in the second half at Ball Arena on Wed Feb 14, 2024 (AP News photo)

On the Sacramento Kings podcast with Tony Renteria:

#1 When the Sacramento Kings made their visit to Denver last Wednesday Feb 14th the Denver Nuggets were three short in their line up with guards Jamal Murray (tibia inflammation) and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (hamstring tendinosis). That gave the Kings a leg up going into that game.

#2 With Jamal Murray who is the Nuggets second leading scorer the Kings De’Aaron Fox had free reign leading the Kings with 30 points and eight rebounds. Domantas Sabonis’ contribution was valuable as well scoring 20 points with 13 rebounds.

#3 It wasn’t all smooth sailing for the Kings in that game they had to come back to win it down 16 points in the second half and doing it against the Nuggets is none too easy but the Kings came away with a 102-98 win.

#4 The win by the Kings was their second against the Nuggets in five days they defeated the Nuggets at Golden 1 on Fri Feb 9th 135-106.

#5 The San Antonio Spurs are up next for the Kings on Thursday night at Golden 1 Center. The Spurs are dead last in the Western Conference 15th place. They have lost eight of their last ten games. It’s been a long season for their head coach Gregg Poppovich. Who to his credit has been very patient with his players and the media in post game interviews.

Join Tony Renteria for the Sacramento Kings podcasts each Tuesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Sacramento Kings podcast with Tony Renteria: Kings playing .500 ball look to moving up in second half of season

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The Sacramento Kings forward Trey Lyles (top) and the Denver Nuggets forward Peyton Watson (bottom) are both not giving up the basketball that easy in the second half Wed Feb 14, 2024 at Ball Arena in Denver (AP News photo)

On the Sacramento Kings podcast with Tony Renteria:

#1 The Sacramento Kings (31-23) had a tough task going into Ball Arena in Denver on Wednesday night and they came away winners in surprising fashion after losing five of their last six games before the game against the Denver Nuggets (36-19) they opened up the offense on the Nuggets.

#2 Talking about the offense for the Kings in the third quarter they outscored Denver 30-21 it was an impact quarter that helped the outcome of the game.

#3 The Kings guard De’Aaron Fox led with 30 points and Harrison Baines and Domantas Sabonis both finished second in scoring with 20 points.

#4 One of the key players that the Kings kept his numbers was center Nikola Jokic who scored 15 points and the Kings defended him well and sometimes double teaming him.

#5 The Kings return home next Thu Feb 22nd at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento they’ll face the San Antonio Spurs. The Spurs have suffered under head coach Gregg Poppovich this season. The Spurs are in dead last (15th place) in the NBA Western Conference and have lost eight of the last ten games. In spite of this do you see this being a battle or a landslide for the Kings.

Tony Renteria filled in Jeremiah Salmonson for the Kings podcasts heard Fridays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Kings Wrap Up Road Trip With a Lose to the Cavaliers 136-110

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Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donavon Mitchell (left) tries to reach in on the Sacramento Kings forward Domantas Sabonis (right) at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland on Mon Feb 5, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

The Cleveland Cavaliers (32-16) beat the Sacramento Kings (29-20) Monday night 136-110. Donovan Mitchell led the Cavaliers with 29 points. The Kings had a lot of trouble containing the Cleveland long game. The Cavs had 23 triples. 

The long seven game road trip had taken it’s toll on the Kings. Domantas Sabonis had yet another triple double with 19 rebounds, 15 assists and 12 points. Sacramento will be thrilled to be back at Golden 1 Center on Wednesday night.

Game recap: The Kings got a nice start in the opening quarter of the game but trailed after the first 12 minutes of play 39-34. Keegan Murray, who has struggled the past few games had a much improved first half scoring ten points. 

Sabonis had eight points in the half but more impressive were his 11 rebounds and ten assists. He was a basket away from another triple double. Harrison Barnes had the team high in the first half with 13 points. De’Aaron Fox was on the verge of double digits as was Sabonis. 

Despite some nice play in the first quarter the Kings had cooled off in the second quarter getting stomped 35-25. At the half the Cavs had a 74-59 lead. Cleveland was red-hot from beyond the arc with 13 triples and the Kings needed to shut that down in the second half. Sacramento had to lock in defensively getting some stops.

Cleveland continued to shoot more triples in the third quarter and mid-way through the quarter had 17 and the Kings needed more stops and a whole lot more offense. Sacramento got some offense going as well as some stops cutting a 19 point deficit to 13 with 6:01 left in the quarter. 

Sabonis clocked another triple double in the third. As the quarter began to wind down, the Kings were being outplayed on both sides of the ball. The Cavs Mitchell was unstoppable with 27 points to his credit through three quarters. Cleveland led going into the fourth quarter 106-92.

The Kings had some ground to make up with the most important task containing Mitchell in the fourth quarter. Both teams were shooting around 55% from the field but it was those Cleveland triples that were making a huge difference for the Cavaliers. 

The 21 point Cleveland lead had been cut to ten 106-96 with ten minutes left in the game but the relentless Cavs pushed their lead back to fifteen 111-96. With a 126-105 Cavalier lead the two teams began to trade baskets.

 Even open looks were failing for the Kings and they were totally being outplayed offensively and defensively. This lengthy road trip was physically catching up with the Kings and it really showed as this game played on.

After a grueling seven game road trip the Kings now head back home. This was a disappointing game for the team, struggling most of the way. Every starter finished with double digits as did bench player Malik Monk but despite that, the Cavs dominated in every way. 

Harrison Barnes had the team high with 22 points. The Kings just could not contain the 23 shots from beyond the arc that the Cavs hit. 69 points from downtown did a real number on Sacramento.

Post game notes: After winning a game in Chicago against the Bulls 123-115 Saturday night, the Kings capped off a seven-game road trip playing the Cavaliers Monday night. Cleveland improved to a 31-16 record are coming off a win over the Spurs 117-101 Saturday night. The Kings finished off this road trip (their longest this season) with a loss in a 24 point loss to the Cavaliers.

Wednesday night the Kings will be back home at Golden 1 Center taking on the Detroit Pistons. Despite having the worst record in all of basketball, the Kings will not take this team lightly. Tipoff for this game is scheduled for 7:00 PM.

Warriors Hand San Antonio Spurs Eleventh Loss in a Row 118-112

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Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) takes a jump shot over the San Antonio Spurs forward Zach Collins (23) in first half action at Chase Center in San Francisco on Fri Nov 24, 2023 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

The Golden State Warriors (8-9) were very lucky to escape with a win against the San Antonio Spurs (3-13) 118-112. The Spur put out a great effort forcing turnovers but the youngsters came up just short. The Warriors were struggling with 24 turnovers but the 35 points from guard Stephen Curry sealed the win.

Friday night the Warriors welcomed the Spurs to Chase Center. The Spurs are the bottom dwellers of the Western Conference right now with a lot of season left ahead of them. The Warriors come into this game after losing to the Suns Wednesday 123-115. The Spurs also lost in their last game to the Los Angeles Clippers 109-102.

Game recap: The Spurs came out fast leading after the first quarter 35-32. Golden State battled back with a 22 to 9 run in the second quarter. The Warriors trailed until 6:18 when they took their first lead of the second quarter 50-49.

The Spurs had led by as much as nine points in the quarter but trailed at the half 59-55 in this hotly contested half. The Warrior run in the second quarter made all the difference in this game. Gary Payton II was back for the team and his defense was exactly what the doctor ordered.

Going into the third quarter, both offenses were lackluster through the first three minutes. Each team registered a couple of points in those three minutes but it was an ugly quarter so far for both sides. The Warriors took a time out and when play resumed, Kevon Looney hit a two. The Warriors had caught their breath and came out on fire.

The Spurs were pretty fired up tying up the game at 66 mid-way through the quarter. It had been very difficult to get any type of separation in this game for the Warriors. At 4:38 the Warriors went on a 11-0 run taking a 77-68 lead and finding the separation that had eluded them so far in this game. The Curry flurry had begun with 4 of 8 from downtown.

Golden State had put a lot more pressure on the Spurs offensively and defensively hitting 16 unanswered points in the third quarter. The Spurs had a strong finish in the quarter pulling to within five points 86-81. They scored the final nine points going into the fourth quarter.

The Warriors started off the fourth quarter with a couple of shots from downtown. The Golden State bench was really rising to the occasion going on a 8-0 run extending their lead to 94-81. It was truly a sight watching Chris Paul doing his best to defend Victor Wembanyama.

The Warriors bench did a great job in the first half of the fourth quarter escalating their lead to 101-87. The Spurs fought hard to avoid their eleventh loss in a row but came up short losing 118-112.

Curry had the high in the game with 35 points and off the bench Dario Saric was terrific with 20 points. The team is still struggling with turnovers committing 24. The Warriors were lucky indeed to get out of this game with a win.

Next Tuesday night the Warriors will play the Sacramento Kings up at Golden 1 Center. The Warriors will not play before then having a few days off. Sacramento will also come into the game rested having three days off. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:00 PM.

Ten lost games in a row for Spurs

Golden State Warriors podcast with Jerry Feitelberg: Durant makes it look easy guides Suns with 32 pts; Paul ejected goes after ref

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Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant drives on the Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson (11) at the Chase Center in San Francisco on Wed Nov 22, 2023 (AP News photo)

On the Warriors podcast with Jerry F:

#1 The Phoenix Suns Kevin Durant showed his old teammates over at Golden State how it’s done leading the Suns with 32 points and had the hot hand in his shot selection.

#2 Jerry, Durant also grabbed eight rebounds two assists. The Suns took advantage of Durant’s offense and the Warriors were once again frustrated.

#3 The Warriors Chris Paul was given one technical with just 32.2 seconds left in the first half for a lengthy discussion with official Scott Foster. After Foster started to walk away from Paul, Paul continued to jaw with Foster and picked up another technical and was ejected.

#4 There was more Paul went after Foster and Warrior teammates had to get between Foster and Paul before something worse was going to go down.

#5 The Warriors have now lost five out of their last six games. The Warriors host the San Antonio Spurs at Chase Center on Friday night for a 7:00pm tip. The Spurs are a current four game losing streak and hope to end the streak in San Francisco. How do you see this match up Friday night.

Join Jerry F for the Golden State Warriors podcast Thursdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Suns hold off a Warrior fourth quarter rally to win 123-115

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The Phoenix Suns guard Devon Booker (1) drives on Golden State Warriors guard Brandin Podzienic (2) at Footprint Center in Phoenix on Wed Nov 22, 2023 (AP News photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg

The Golden State Warriors (7-9) were in Phoenix to take on the Phoenix Suns (9-6) Wednesday night. The Warriors snapped a six-game losing streak Monday night and hoped to get their second win in a row. The Suns had other thoughts. It was a strange game.

The Warriors won the first and fourth quarters. The teams tied in the third quarter. What happened in the second quarter won the game for the Suns. The Suns’ defense held the Warriors to 16 points. Phoenix put 37 points on the board and put the Warriors in a deep hole.

Other things that happened in the second quarter led to the Warriors losing the game. The Warriors committed nine turnovers and too many fouls, and with 23 seconds left in the first half, Paul fouled Kevin Durant. Paul complained to referee Scott Foster.

Paul and Foster have a long history, and when Paul said something Foster didn’t like, Foster tagged Paul with two technical fouls. In Addition, Warriors head coach, Steve Kerr, was tagged with a technical. Devin Booker made three free throws. Durant made his two for a five-point play. The Suns finished the second quarter on a 23-5 run to lead by sixteen at the end of the first half. 63-47.

The Warriors needed to find a way to get back into the game. With Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Andrew Wiggins on the floor to start the third quarter, the Warriors were hoping to go on a run to get back into the game. Things did not go well for the Warriors.

The Suns’ defense bottled up Curry. Kevin Durant and Devin Booker led the Suns’ offense. The Suns increased the lead to 23, 83-60. Kerr decided to let his second unit play. The youngsters performed well. At the end of the period, the bench chopped off seven points from the Phoenix lead to trail by 16, 91-75

16-point deficits going into the fourth quarter can be overcome. If the team gets hot and the defense makes stops, the team could pull out a win. The defense of the Warriors had to stop Durant, Booker, Grayson Allen, Nassir Little, and Josh Okogie. The Warriors came close to pulling off the upset.

Moses Moody, Dario Saric, Cory Joseph, and Brandin Podzienic put on a show for Coach Kerr. The Warriors closed to within three points, 118-115. Time was not on the Warriors side. There were only 19 seconds left in the game. To get possession of the ball, they had to foul. Booker and Durant went to the free-throw line and iced the game for Phoenix. 123-115 was the final score in favor of the Suns.

Game Notes: The Warriors have lost seven of the last eight games, and their record falls to 7-9. The Suns improved to 9-6. 

The Warriors were without Draymond Green and Gary Payton II. Green has one more game left on his five-game suspension. Payton has a sprained ankle and is unsure when he will return. The Suns’ Bradley Beal was out with back issues.

The Warriors lost the game at the free-throw line. The Suns made 44 free throws in 52 tries. The Warriors made 19. That 25-point difference was sufficient to win the game for Phoenix. The Suns scored 27 points off turnovers. The Warriors had 17. Add that two-point differential, and the Warriors gave the Suns 35 points. 

The Warriors took 90 shots compared to the Suns’ 76. Thompson led the Warriors with 23 points. Curry was held to 16. Other double-figured players were Dario Saric with 17, Wiggins with 11, and Podziemic with ten. 

Durant finished the night with 32 points. Booker had a double-double with 25 points and ten assists. Josh Okogie helped put a blanket on Curry’s offensive efforts. Okogie finished with 12 points.

The Warriors return home to Chase Center Frida night to play an in-season tournament game against the San Antonio Spurs. The fans will see the rookie sensation Victor Wembanyama for the first time. The game will start at 7 p.m.

Sacramento Kings podcast with Jeremiah Salmonson: Kings take out Spurs for fifth straight win in a row in San Antonio

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Sacramento Keon Ellis (23) reaches for the basket in first half action at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio on Fri Nov 17, 2023 (AP News photo)

Sacramento Kings podcast with Jeremiah:

#1 The Sacramento Kings (7-4) beat the San Antonio Spurs (3-9) in a game that was close until the final minutes of the game. 

#2 This was their fifth win in a row in an amazing resilient effort winning 129-120. 

#3 The Kings handed the Spurs their seventh loss in a row. De’Aaron Fox finished with 43 points.

#4 Fox also had eight rebounds, seven assists shooting at 58% from the field. This guy just seems to play better and better with every game.

#5 The Kings  take on the Dallas Mavericks next Sunday with tipoff scheduled for 4:30 PM in Dallas. Jeremiah how do you see this match up?

Join Jeremiah Salmonson for the Kings podcasts each Friday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com