Lakers vs Kings Preview and Game Thread: A back-to-back California contest begins

The Lakers and Kings, two division foes desperately needing wins, will play twice in Sacramento over the next three days.

The Lakers are back from their mini four-day break and will travel to Sacramento, where they will face the Kings twice in the next three days. This will be the second and third time both teams see each other this year.

Start time and TV schedule

Who: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Sacramento Kings

When: 7 p.m. PT, Dec 15

Where: Golden 1 Center

Watch: Spectrum SportsNet

The Lakers have enjoyed multiple rest days between their last three games over the past two weeks. That’s ideal, given how banged up they are and the fact that they have a superstar who’s about to be 40 years old in less than two weeks.

They’ve also had time to regroup, assess and step away from the game after losing seven out of their last 10 at one point.

In that short break, JJ Redick has come up with an adjustment, starting third-year guard Max Christie, who was once out of the rotation during the early parts of the season.

Christie, who put up seven points, one assist and two rebounds in the win against the Memphis Grizzlies last Sunday, may not have filled the stat sheet, but he did an excellent job of containing Ja Morant to 6-21 shooting as his primary defender. That was easily one of his best performances yet, at least defensively.

Now, the question for the Lakers and Christie is whether or not this will be his permanent role moving forward. Redick did say that the constant quest to find their fifth guy will continue throughout the season.

If Max wants to be that fifth guy, his perimeter defense must continue to stand out on top of giving more on the offensive end. The perfect opportunity for the guard to showcase his skills once again is against the Kings on Thursday.

Zooming into the Kings

I singled out Christie above because his defense will very much be needed against the Kings’ feisty and speedy guards De’Aaron Fox, Malik Monk and Kevin Huerter.

The purple and gold’s defense will have to be good in this matchup for them to have a chance at winning. This Kings team, for as much as they’ve struggled this season, currently has the sixth-best offense in the league and averages 116.7 points per game, good for seventh-best in the NBA.

Sacramento is coming off a frustrating loss to the Denver Nuggets, so expect a hungry Kings team desperate to turn their season around. The best way the Lakers can take advantage of this Kings team is to strike on offense because, just like Los Angeles, Sacramento struggles to stop anyone from scoring.

Let’s see if the Lakers can come out on top in this back-to-back California contest by the end of the weekend.

Notes and Updates

• For the Lakers’ injury report, Anthony Davis (left plantar fasciitis) is listed as probable, while LeBron James (left foot injury management) is questionable.
• Jaxson Hayes (right ankle sprain/contusion), Jarred Vanderbilt (right foot surgery recovery) Jalen Hood-Schifino (left hamstring strain) and Christian Wood (left knee surgery recovery) are out. Hayes and Wood reportedly didn’t travel with the team on their trip to Sacramento.
• Meanwhile, Bronny James Jr. and Maxwell Lewis will be competing for the South Bay Lakers.
• As for the Kings, Domantas Sabonis (back contusion), Keegan Murray (left ankle soreness) and Kevin Hurter (left AC joint sprain) are all questionable. The only player officially ruled out for Sacramento is Devin Carter (left shoulder surgery).
• We will be live on Playback for this game, so be sure to join us!

You can follow Nicole on Twitter at @nicoleganglani.