NBA: Suddenly hot Kings take aim at woeful Wizards

The Sacramento Kings are riding high and aim to extend their season-best winning streak to four games when they host the Washington Wizards on Friday night.

After a rough start to the season, losing 30 of their first 38 games, the Kings have suddenly turned things around, winning three consecutive games by double digits against playoff contenders—the Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers, and New York Knicks.

Friday’s matchup against the Wizards is the fourth game of a seven-game homestand, as the Kings hope to continue building on their recent success.

"Our league is funny that way," said Sacramento coach Doug Christie, noting that the three wins do not necessarily predict the rest of the homestand. "We'll win some and we'll lose some. The key, as we define ourselves, is that we play to our standard."

Sacramento led by as many as 25 points in Wednesday’s 112-101 victory over the Knicks. DeMar DeRozan scored 27 points, while Zach LaVine added 25 points and five 3-pointers. Precious Achiuwa contributed 20 points and a season-high 14 rebounds, and Russell Westbrook posted 19 points, 11 assists, and six rebounds.

"I think it's just a full effort," LaVine said about the team’s success. "You’ve seen over the last couple of games that everyone has contributed. We’re actually playing some defense. The collective effort of guys playing some defense—you can see it."

DeRozan moved into 22nd place on the NBA’s all-time scoring list with 26,077 points, passing Kevin Garnett (26,071). Stephen Curry (26,257) is 21st, and Hall of Famer John Havlicek (26,395) is 20th.

Sacramento will get guard Dennis Schroder back for the game against Washington after he served a three-game suspension for confronting Luka Doncic following a road game against the Lakers on Dec. 28.

After facing the Wizards, the Kings will complete their homestand with games against the Portland Trail Blazers, Miami Heat, and Toronto Raptors.

"I hope it’s something we can build off," Achiuwa said of the streak. "Momentum in this league is very important. Right now, we have a good flow of things, and we want to continue building on that."

Washington enters the game on a four-game losing streak, with an average deficit of 18.8 points. The skid included 21-point losses to the Philadelphia 76ers and New Orleans Hornets and a 19-point loss to the Phoenix Suns.

The Wizards were defeated 119-105 by the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday, the second game of a four-game road trip. Kyshawn George led Washington with 23 points, while Khris Middleton added 17.

The team has struggled to find scorers since trading CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert to the Atlanta Hawks for four-time All-Star Trae Young on Jan. 9. Young is currently sidelined with knee and quadriceps injuries and will be re-evaluated in mid-February, according to coach Brian Keefe.

"Our priority for him is his health. That’s No. 1," Keefe said. "We’re going to trust the process with our medical and performance teams. The only thing I have is that we will reevaluate him after the All-Star break."

Marvin Bagley III had 15 points and 11 rebounds against the Clippers and is averaging 10 points and 5.6 rebounds in 33 games (seven starts) this season. Bagley was the No. 2 overall pick by Sacramento in the 2018 draft, selected just ahead of Luka Doncic (No. 3), Jaren Jackson Jr. (No. 4), and Trae Young (No. 5).

Historically, the Kings have won eight of the past 12 matchups against the Wizards, though the teams split their two meetings last season.

—Field Level Media/Reuters