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The Washington Wizards are coming off a big home win against the Charlotte Hornets and have a chance to notch another digit in the win column with the Sacramento Kings coming to town.
The Wizards haven't won back-to-back games in more than a month. On Nov. 14 and 17, they topped the Orlando Magic and Milwaukee Bucks, respectively, in the Verizon Center.
This is the first meeting this season between the Wizards and the Kings. They last played each other on March 22, 2015. All five Kings' starters scored in double-digits in Sacramento's 109-86 home win.
Game Info
When and Where: Monday, Dec. 21 at 7:00 p.m. in the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C.
Watch on: Folks in the DMV can catch this one on CSN Mid-Atlantic, those in Sac Town can watch on CSN-California, and everyone else can catch this on League Pass.
Listen on: Radio party on WNEW 99.1 FM.
Injury Report
The Wizards are missing: Alan Anderson (ankle) and Bradley Beal (fibula) are out. Drew Gooden (calf), Otto Porter (thigh) and Nene (calf) are all questionable. Lots of leg problems for the Wizards.
The Kings are missing: Willie Cauley-Stein (finger) and Eric Moreland (foot) are out.
What to watch for
John Wall vs. Rajon Rondo
The two point guards met three times last season and here were the results:
|
John Wall |
Rajon Rondo |
|||||||
|
PTS |
REB |
AST |
FG % |
PTS |
REB |
AST |
FG % |
|
|
WSH @ BOS - Dec. 7, 2014 |
17 |
8 |
14 |
5/13 |
13 |
13 |
11 |
5/17 |
|
BOS @ WSH - Dec. 8, 2014 |
26 |
7 |
17 |
10/17 |
0 |
2 |
4 |
0/3 |
|
WSH @ DAL - Dec. 30, 2014 |
11 |
4 |
8 |
4/7 |
11 |
1 |
5 |
4/10 |
This has been a competitive point guard battle for the past few seasons and despite Rondo's struggles last year he has been stuffing the stat sheet for the Kings. Rondo leads the NBA in assists per game and is averaging 12.6 points, 6.8 rebounds and 11.1 assists per game, starting 25 games. In his first game back from suspension, Rondo scored 11 points and dished out 13 dimes in the Kings' loss to the Timberwolves.
Most likely Wizards' killer: Rudy Gay
The Baltimore native scored 26 points the last time the Kings and Wizards met and Gay has scored in double digits in 18 of his last 19 games. Needless to say, he's having a decent season.
Without Beal and possibly Otto Porter, someone like Jared Dudley or Kelly Oubre will have to step up on the wing and defend well against Gay.