Kings vs. Clippers Preview – By the Numbers

December 12, 2023

The Kings make a quick trip down to LA to take on the Clippers and try and get revenge after falling flat in a 117-131 loss that never felt close. And just like last time, the Kings will be on the second night of a back-to-back, which is sure to be the hot topic coming into tonight’s game.

If this topic of the Kings struggling in the 2nd night of a back-to-back sounds familiar, it’s because it is. It’s the exact same conversation we were having last year at this point after the Kings lost their first 2 games on no rest.

  • 2022-23 Season
    • 1st Game with 0 Days Rest:
      • 125-130 Loss to the Warriors | FGs: 47-of-100 (47%) | 3P: 11-of-43 (25.6%)
    • 2nd Game with 0 Days Rest:
      • 106-115 Loss to the Hawks FGs: 41-of-89 (46.1%) | 3P: 9-of-31 (29.0%)

If you think back to last season, it was games that left Kings fans wanting more. Now a look at this years numbers so far.

  • 2023-24 Season
    • 1st Game with 0 Days Rest:
      • 93-129 Loss to the Pelicans | FGs: 33-of-87 (37.9%) | 3P: 11-of-45 (24.4%)
    • 2nd Game with 0 Days Rest:
      • 117-131 Loss to the Clippers | FGs: 40-of-86 (46.5%) | 3P: 13-of-41 (31.7%)

Notice any similarities between the four games? Incredibly poor shooting that’s hard to come back from, which makes sense with tired legs. The good news for the Kings is that the problems didn’t continue throughout all of last season, finishing the season 8-7 on games with no rest, and a much improved 36.9% from beyond the arc. It was actually the 3rd game where they started to turn things around in such games with a win over the Bulls. We’ll see if the parallels to last season continue tonight against the Clippers.

The stats for the Clippers that stand out are the same as last time these two teams matched up. The Kings love to pass the ball, leading the league with 312.8 per game, and the Clippers love to dribble the ball, with only 253.3 passes per game, last in the league.

The Kings defense has been better this year, but facing the Clippers is a non-stop attack on point of attack defense. Out of the 117 players who have enough Isolation playtypes to qualify, James Harden ranks 17th and Kawhi Leonard ranks 27th, and Sacramento saw those full effects in the first matchup.

Kawhi led the way with 34 Points on 14-of-18 (77.8%) shooting from the field and 2-of-3 (66.7%) from 3, and Harden was right behind with 26 Points on 8-of-14 (57.1%) shooting from the field and 5-of-8 (62.5%) from 3. Kawhi especially looked unstoppable.

The big difference tonight is that Keegan Murray is available and coming off winning the Defensive Player of the Game crown last night. He’s the exact body type that you need to try and guard Kawhi. Long and lengthy to try and bother him as much as possible. When Kawhi gets rolling, it’s almost impossible to shut him down, but having Keegan back should definitely help.

And now for my favorite part of the preview articles — the Swing Stat of the game. The Clippers lead the league with 8.8 Steals per game, and won the takeaway battle 8-1 in the first matchup against Sacramento. The Kings are in the middle of the pack with 7.2 Steals per game, but are 11-3 when they get at least 6, compared to 2-5 when they are at 5 or less. That officially makes Steals the Swing Stat of the game.

Sacramento is at their best when they get out in transition. The Clippers defense is too good to go up against them in the halfcourt all game, so getting Steals to lead to easy baskets, and limiting those same good look for the Clippers could swing the game in the Kings favor tonight.