On Wednesday, the Sacramento Kings completed a five-game highway journey with an upset win over the Toronto Raptors after shedding every of the first 4 video games of the journey. By avoiding the highway journey sweep, the Kings could have hurt their chances at the top spot in the NBA Draft lottery, however they’ve at the least reached the 20-win mark, which might have made the season extremely miserable if they’d fallen quick.
Now, the Kings have simply 5 video games left in the common season, and whereas everybody in the group has doubtless been ready for the offseason for weeks, they’ll doubtless attempt to finish their 2025-26 marketing campaign on a excessive word.
It is evident that the Kings should not tanking, and if they’re, they’re failing at it. They have a 6-7 document of their final 13 video games, however they’ve an attention-grabbing slew of video games to shut out the season that might shake issues up. Here are my predictions for a way their remaining 5 video games of the season will go:
4/2 vs. New Orleans Pelicans
Many Sacramento followers are nonetheless haunted by the Pelicans’ 6-0 sweep of the Kings in the 2023-24 season, together with a play-in match sport that crushed their playoff hopes. After returning the favor with a 3-1 season sequence win final season, the Kings have fallen again into the Pelicans’ laps this season.
The Pelicans have already overwhelmed the Kings twice this season by a mixed 36 factors, and Sacramento will want a win on this sport to keep away from one other sequence sweep. However, they need to be assured that they’ll sustain.
The Pelicans are on an lively five-game shedding streak, and after being eradicated from playoff rivalry with no first-round decide of their very own, they’re virtually taking part in for nothing at this level. It is difficult to encourage a gaggle with that feeling, however Doug Christie has managed to rally the Kings at instances. They will doubtless present up for this sport, however, spoiler alert, it could be their final win of the season.
Result: Kings win
4/5 vs. LA Clippers
The Kings’ remaining 4 video games of the season are a really difficult stretch, however they’ve proven they’re able to pulling off a shocking upset. However, this matchup in opposition to the Clippers is probably going not a kind of instances.
The Kings already upset the Clippers of their final assembly due to an unimaginable effort from Precious Achiuwa, DeMar DeRozan, and Maxime Raynaud, however will probably be powerful to repeat that consequence. With the Clippers attempting to do what they’ll to keep away from falling to ninth place in the West, the Kings will be unable to catch them off guard once more.
Result: Kings loss
4/7 at Golden State Warriors
By this level in the season, the Warriors are anticipated to have star guard Steph Curry again from an prolonged harm absence. With a semi-healthy Warriors squad, led by Curry, they’ll definitely give the Kings some bother.
The Kings and Warriors have cut up their season sequence 1-1 thus far, however will probably be laborious for Sacramento to battle with them in these subsequent two matchups. However, even with Curry in the lineup, this Warriors workforce just isn’t very dominant, so counting out the Kings earlier than tip-off can be foolish.
It is believable for the Kings and Warriors to separate their subsequent two video games, however issues will definitely be in Golden State’s favor down the stretch, particularly for this matchup in Chase Center.
Result: Kings loss
4/10 vs. Golden State Warriors
After two days of relaxation, the Kings and Warriors may have a fast rematch, this time in Sacramento. This one may definitely go a variety of methods, however once more, with Curry anticipated to be in the Warriors’ lineup, it’s laborious to select the Kings on this spot.
It will probably be nice to see the Kings’ younger core be put to the check in opposition to the Warriors twice at this level in the season. If they’re taking part in protection and pulling down their photographs, they undoubtedly are able to profitable both of those video games. While I believe they’ll play the Warriors nearer than many would count on, they may fall simply quick.
Result: Kings loss
4/12 at Portland Trail Blazers
The Blazers have already overwhelmed the Kings in every of their three conferences this season, however this matchup has a few components that might decide what occurs. The season finale is at all times attention-grabbing, as a result of it both looks like the most essential sport of the season, or the consequence couldn’t matter any much less.
Will the Blazers already know their seed in the play-in match? Will the Kings already know their spot in the draft lottery? Either workforce may very well be able to sit down their veterans for this sport, particularly if the Kings want a loss to leap up in the lottery. Regardless, the Blazers have had the Kings’ quantity this season, and that’s unlikely to vary at this stage.
However, the Kings have performed the Blazers very shut in every of their three video games, with the largest margin of defeat coming by seven factors. While this sport may very well be shut, the Blazers will doubtless finish their common season on a excessive word, whereas the Kings ending with a loss would completely sum up their 2025-26 marketing campaign.
