Sacramento Kings vs Minnesota Timberwolves Picks and Predictions October 24th 2024

Timberwolves Seek Redemption as Kings Unveil New Season

The Minnesota Timberwolves are eager to regroup and enhance their output as they head to Northern California for Thursday’s inaugural matchup against the Sacramento Kings. The Timberwolves are coming off a 110-103 defeat on the road against the Los Angeles Lakers, whereas the Kings will be stepping onto the court for their first game of the 2024-25 season, flaunting an overhauled roster.

New Timberwolves Members Face Challenges in First Appearance

In Tuesday’s contest, newcomers Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo combined for 26 points in their debuts with Minnesota. However, they faced difficulties establishing their flow, shooting a total of 8-for-21 overall and 3-for-11 from long range. The Timberwolves, who celebrated three victories over the Lakers last season with an average of 117.7 points per outing, struggled to recreate that offensive efficiency in this year’s opener.

Randle, acknowledging the team’s challenges, remained hopeful about their potential development.

“I didn’t expect it to be smooth sailing. It’s the initial game,” Randle stated. “We didn’t accomplish our goals, and there’s a lot we need to refine and plenty of room to advance.”

The Timberwolves also experienced defensive issues against the Kings last season, losing two of their three clashes. Sacramento tallied 124 points in both of those wins. However, Minnesota’s sole victory in Sacramento was a 110-98 outcome on Dec. 23, 2023, where Anthony Edwards netted 34 points and Rudy Gobert contributed 21 points and 17 rebounds.

Kings Embrace DeMar DeRozan

The Sacramento Kings kick off the season with an added advantage in DeMar DeRozan, who will make his debut in Sacramento colors on Thursday. DeRozan, who was a close second to Stephen Curry for the NBA Clutch Player of the Year title last season, teams up with De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis to create a potentially dynamic offensive trio.

Fox, who achieved a career-high average of 26.6 points last season despite a minor dip in shooting efficiency, already notices the influence DeRozan can have on the squad.

“He draws a lot of attention, especially with the ball in his hands,” Fox expressed. “Even when three or four defenders collapse, it opens up several clear opportunities.”

With DeRozan’s inclusion, Sacramento hopes to elevate their performance from last season, where they trailed the Timberwolves by 10 games in the Western Conference standings after clinching the Pacific Division crown the year prior.

Matchup to Observe: Edwards vs. DeRozan and the Interior Duel

Thursday’s game will not only spotlight a thrilling head-to-head encounter between star guards Anthony Edwards and DeMar DeRozan, but also a crucial showdown in the paint featuring two of the league’s most reliable double-double threats: Domantas Sabonis and Rudy Gobert.

Sabonis topped the NBA with 77 double-doubles in 82 games last season, while Gobert was fifth with 54 in 76 appearances. In their trio of matchups last year, both players recorded double-doubles in each game. Sabonis averaged 17.3 points and 12.0 rebounds, while Gobert tallied 16.3 points and 14.7 rebounds per game during those contests.

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Since Sabonis joined the Kings in 2022, both he and Gobert have managed double-doubles in all seven encounters they have had. Gobert already boasts one double-double this season, having achieved 13 points and 14 rebounds in Tuesday’s defeat against the Lakers.

Kings Aim to Establish Momentum in Season Opener

As the Kings commence their season at home, they strive to create a powerful first impression with their new lineup. Sacramento’s offense, now enhanced by DeRozan, seeks to exploit Minnesota’s early-season difficulties and kick off the season positively. Meanwhile, the Timberwolves will aim to resolve their shooting challenges and secure significant contributions from their refreshed roster as they look to recover from their initial loss.