Sacramento Kings on upward trend entering clash with the Los Angeles Clippers

LOS ANGELES – A pair of teams intent on improving their National Basketball Association (NBA) play-off prospects in the Western Conference will meet as the Los Angeles Clippers play host to the Sacramento Kings on March 9 (March 10, Singapore time) in Inglewood, California.

The Clippers (34-29) enter the game eighth in the conference standings, while the Kings are a half-game behind in ninth.

While the Clippers are trying to get back on track after a rough run of eight road games in which they went 2-6, the Kings have found a flow with a reworked roster while going 5-1 since Feb 24.

The Kings are coming off an emotional 127-109 victory over the San Antonio Spurs on March 7 in De’Aaron Fox’s return to Sacramento, after he was traded on Feb 3, following eight seasons with his former team.

A mixed reception of boos and cheers from Kings fans was followed by Fox scoring 16 points for the Spurs, but it came on six-of-17 shooting, including zero of six from three-point range.

Zach LaVine, who was part of the return package in the three-team trade that sent Fox to San Antonio, delivered everything Kings fans were hoping for with 36 points on 14-of-22 shooting, while going seven of 11 from distance.

LaVine has averaged 23.4 points with 4.1 assists in 13 games with Sacramento and 27 points over the past six.

“I feel like each game, you have to put pressure on yourself, especially with how tight the (play-off chase) is,” LaVine said. “We knew how important it was with (Fox) coming back to the building. I was going to be ready.”

The Kings have lost both of their games to the Clippers this season, but the teams have not met since Nov 22. After March 9, they meet