The Sacramento Kings are mired in a four-game losing streak for the second time this month, untimely skids that are hindering Sacramento’s chances of gaining a Western Conference play-in berth.
The Kings will look to break through Thursday night when they host the Portland Trail Blazers, a team facing its own must-win situation.
Sacramento (35-37) has slipped below .500 during its latest slide and is tied with the Phoenix Suns for the final two play-in spots entering Wednesday’s play. The Dallas Mavericks are a half-game behind and the Trail Blazers (32-41) are 3 1/2 games back.
The Kings are just 2-4 on a seven-game homestand yet interim coach Doug Christie is remaining optimistic despite the swoon.
“I’m not the moral victory guy, but there is a good team in that locker room and they are trying to find their way, and they’re trying to find their rhythm,” Christie said of his squad. “They continue to fight, and I appreciate that. It doesn’t feel good right now but once they get that rhythm, watch out.”
Sacramento has dropped three of the four games in its skid by double digits, including a 113-95 loss to the Boston Celtics on Monday and a 121-105 setback against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday.
Keegan Murray was hot against the Thunder, posting season-high numbers in points (28) and 3-pointers (nine). Zach LaVine added 19 points but the Kings were outworked 52-36 on the boards.
Christie noticed the rebounding discrepancy as well as a tendency to play well in spurts without sustaining it.
“I’ve told you guys, 80 percent isn’t enough. We’re a 90 percent-plus team,” Christie said. “What our guys have to understand is the consistency to which you approach something is everything for us. That means effort. That means attention to detail. That means extra efforts, possession game.
“That’s the team in the locker room. Unfortunately, it’s not the team that continues to show itself for 48 minutes. I know that’s hard, but we’re not accepting anything less. There will be a time, and when that time comes you’ll feel it.”
Meanwhile, Portland is 2-1 against the Kings entering their final matchup of the regular season.
The Trail Blazers are starting a five-game road trip that also includes stops at the New York Knicks, Atlanta Hawks, Toronto Raptors and Chicago Bulls.
Portland dropped its last two games — 129-116 to the Boston Celtics on Sunday and 122-111 to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday. There wasn’t much margin for error before the two setbacks and now there’s even less heading out on the road.
The loss to the Cavaliers felt like a bad one for Portland rookie center Donovan Clingan.
“I feel every loss is frustrating but nights like this when we’re giving everything we got out there and emptying the tank, it’s definitely a tough one,” Clingan said.
Clingan had 18 points and 12 rebounds against Cleveland. Shaedon Sharpe and Scoot Henderson also scored 18 points. Deni Avdija added 17 points, 10 rebounds and six assists.
Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups liked seeing his team pull within two with less than seven minutes to go but the Cavaliers turned their play up a notch.
“We fought our butts off,” Billups said. “That team is better than we are. That team is the best in the Eastern Conference and maybe in the league.”
Portland’s Matisse Thybulle scored 15 points on five 3-pointers in just 15 minutes of playing time.
Jerami Grant (right knee) is doubtful and Toumani Camara (left foot) is questionable for the Trail Blazers. Malik Monk (illness) is questionable for the Kings.
