Utah Jazz at Sacramento Kings Game Thread: Time for Regicide?

The Utah Jazz tip off against the Sacramento Kings in an hour, and play their second night of a back-to-back that had them lose the first game in Phoenix last night. The Kings are seeded worst than the Jazz in the Western Conference, but as our recent struggles against the Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles Lakers, and Minnesota Timberwolves prove -- on any night a team in the West can beat you if you don't have your guard up.

Utah should be ready for battle tonight -- somewhat with a bigger chip on their shoulder for the wrong call by the NBA on the last play of the game. (Something the NBA has copped to.)

Robbin' Hood NBA acknowledges Rodney Hood was fouled on final shot last night vs. @Suns https://t.co/uA1an9bNnG

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) April 5, 2015

Yeah, but the best thing I read today on the site is in the comments section -- don't leave tonight's game up to the refs. Utah should come out and try to blow out the Kings, who will be playing without Darren Collison and Rudy Gay. Also, we have more fans.

I didn't think it was true.

For the Jazz Trey Burke is still a game-time decision, and we'll know more a little later on. (I'm writing this hours in advance, if you couldn't tell.) (ED. HE WILL PLAY TONIGHT!)

Utah's defense should present a significant challenge for the Kings. But DeMarcus Cousins is a beast whenever we play him, so it should be a very good battle in the paint. Also, as Rudy Gobert points out:

Tonight we face the Kings in Sacramento. Its not everyday that i can face somebody way taller than me . #gojazz

— rudy gobert (@rudygobert27) April 5, 2015

Ha ha, he's talking about this guy. I think that this game is not going to be one decided by individual match-ups. But it's a team game. And George Karl (UNC) going up against Quin Snyder (DUKE) is always going to be fun. Both are known to make solid in-game adjustments.

But Utah is just a much better team almost any way you slice it.

Presumed Starters:

• Point Guard: Dante Exum vs. Ray McCallum
• Shooting Guard: Rodney Hood vs. Ben McLemore
• Small Forward: Gordon Hayward vs. Omri Casspi
• Power Forward: Derrick Favors vs. Carl Landry
• Center: Rudy Gobert vs DeMarcus Cousins

Bench:

• Trey Burke (GTD) or Bryce Cotton vs. Andre Miller
• Joe Ingles vs. Nik Stauskas
• Trevor Booker vs. Jason Thompson
• Jack Cooley (Idaho) vs. Sim Bhullar (Reno)
• Elijah Millsap vs. ________ ?
• Jeremy Evans and ________ ? vs. Derrick Williams and Reggie Evans

N.B. Trey Burke is cleared to play tonight. So that is good.

Injuries / Absences:

• OUT: Rudy Gay, Darren Collison, Alec Burks, Eric Moreland
• NBADL: Grant Jerrett
• Questionable / Game Time Decision: Trey Burke

GO JAZZ GO!