Record: 32-25
OffRtg: 117.3 (2) DefRtg: 115.2 (22) NetRtg: +2.1 (7) Pace: 101.2 (10)
With the league average for efficiency taking a huge leap from last season, the Kings have had the league’s seventh most “improved” defense, even though they’ve allowed more points per 100 possessions than they did in 2021-22 (114.8, 27th). Having allowed just 1.5 per 100 more than the league average, this would be their fourth-best defensive season in the 17 years since they last made the playoffs. But that’s still not good, and the Kings went into the break allowing 124.8 points per 100 possessions over their last six games, with only the Blazers and Rockets having allowed more over that stretch.
Turning things around on that end of the floor could be tough because the Kings have twice as many remaining games against top-10 offenses (10) as they have against bottom-10 offenses (5). The Kings are also one of four teams with six back-to-backs remaining on their schedule, and the first of the six is right away. They’ll host the Blazers (who rank fifth offensively) on Thursday and then begin a three-game trip in L.A. on Friday, having split their first two games with the fourth-place Clippers (who they lead by three games in the loss column).
The Kings are 70% of the way toward ending the longest playoff drought in NBA history and, while there are three teams – the Clips, Suns and Mavs – that obviously have the ability to catch them down the stretch, it would take a fourth to knock them out of a guaranteed playoff spot.
Three numbers to know…
1. The Kings have seen the league’s biggest jump in winning percentage (+.196) and its third-biggest jump in point differential per 100 possessions (+7.3) from last season.
2. They’re one of three teams – the Nets and Mavs are the others – that rank in the top 10 in field goal percentage in the paint (61.4%, second), mid-range field goal percentage (44.2%, fourth) and 3-point percentage (36.5%, ninth).
3. The Kings’ starting lineup has played 661 total minutes, most in the league and 544 more minutes than any Kings lineup played last season. It’s outscored opponents by 4.0 points per 100 possessions, a mark which ranks 13th among 27 lineups that have played at least 200 minutes.
Week 19: vs. POR, @ LAC, @ OKC
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