{'byline': '', 'hosts': '', 'byline_sources': '', 'hide_author': True, 'audience_id': '', 'original_station': [{'station': 'espn1320', 'path': 'espn1320/sports/sacramento-kings/kings-vs-timberwolves-preview-by-the-numbers'}], 'syndicated_items': '', 'original_item': {'_index': 'published-content_v44', '_type': '_doc', '_score': None, '_source': {'date': '2023-01-28T17:40:06.510+00:00', 'lead': [{'data': {'_version': 2, 'autoPlay': False, 'contentId': 'zDqs5qob0ac', 'videoType': 'Editorial', 'isPlaylist': False, 'origSource': 'https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDqs5qob0ac', 'videoValid': True, 'videoSource': 'video', 'playerCaption': None, 'videoLocation': 'article', 'videoPlaylist': '', 'playerHeadline': None, 'playerBorderTop': False, 'autoPlayNextVideo': True, 'componentVariation': 'youtube', 'playerBorderBottom': False, 'playerBorderTopCTA': 'Watch', 'previousTypeRelated': False}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/youtube/instances/cldg8kbur00283b7ckq1oiy4n@published'}], 'slug': 'kings-vs-timberwolves-preview-by-the-numbers', 'tags': ['NBA', 'Sacramento Kings'], 'feeds': {'msn': True, 'rss': True, 'postup': True, 'facebook': True, 'newsfeed': True, 'sitemaps': True, 'frequency': True, 'smartNews': True, 'apple-news': False, 'smart-news': True, 'most-popular': True, 'reversechron': True, 'google-news-feed': True}, 'hosts': [], 'adTags': {'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/ad-tags/instances/cldg8gssh000t01sdmg5cvc1p@published'}, 'byline': [{'hosts': [], 'names': [], 'prefix': 'by', 'sources': []}], 'teaser': 'Kings vs. Timberwolves Preview – By the Numbers', 'authors': [], 'content': [{'data': {'text': 'The Kings are off to Minnesota to start a 7-game road trip, their longest of the year, with the first of two straight games against the Timberwolves. The Kings have yet to play Minnesota so far this season, so it will be a new test against the new look T-Wolves. Minnesota is on the second night of a back-to-back where they held on to beat the Grizzlies 111-100. It’s a good reminder to not take any team lightly on any night. Let’s dig into how the Kings are in for tonight.', '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cldg8gssh000x01sdt1cov0in@published'}, {'data': {'text': 'The Timberwolves come into the game with the 19th ranked offense, 12th ranked defense, and 15th ranked Net Rating of 0.3. All very fitting numbers that match their 26-25 record. On offense, Minnesota does a great job at making their shots, especially inside the arc. Their 49.2% FG% is 4th highest in the NBA, and they are shooting 57.6% on 2-point FG’s is 57.6%, 3rd highest. They have a drastic drop in their 3-point shooting though, only making them at a 35.5% clip, 19th in the league. The good news for the Kings is that they actually have the T-Wolves beat in 2P%, as they lead the league at 58.4%, and have a huge advantage from 3 at 37.2% (8th).', '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cldg8htq500113b7crf9v7t9j@published'}, {'data': {'text': 'The other limiting factor for the Timberwolves is their propensity to turning the ball over. They average 15.7 Turnovers per game, 3rd most in the NBA. It explains how they can have one of the best shooting percentages in the league but are a below average offensive team. The Kings are 8-1 when they get 10 or more steals, and this would be a perfect game for them to ratchet up the defensive activity. Increase the pressure, get in the passing lanes, make this team feel you and force them into turnovers for easy offense.', '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cldg8htt200123b7c1j2ifd5m@published'}, {'data': {'text': 'On the individual side, Anthony Edwards is having a career year. His 24.5 Points, 6.0 Rebounds, 4.5 Assists, 1.7 Steals, 45.9% FG% and 37.1% 3P% are all career highs. Looking at last years matchups, the Kings primarily used Harrison Barnes to guard Ant, as he guarded him for 14:09 minutes. He did a good job, limiting him to 5-of-11 (45.5%) from the field. What really stands out though is that in the 4:42 minutes that De’Aaron Fox guarded him, Ant shot 1-of-15 (6.7%). If Fox can do anything near that in tonight’s game, the Kings should give themselves a great shot to win.', '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cldg8htvq00133b7cbad3v4sc@published'}, {'data': {'text': 'Another area where the Kings can take advantage of is the Timberwolves tendency to foul. They commit 22.0 fouls per game (2nd) and their opponents shoot 25.6 Free Throws per game (3rd). Sacramento gets to the line 24.7 per night (11th), but have multiple players who can live at the line on any given night, as they have 3 players who are near the top of the league in FTA’s. Sabonis shoots 5.7 per night (21st), Fox is at 5.5 (24th), and Barnes is right behind at 5.1 (31st).', '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cldg8htyw00143b7cjpoypg4j@published'}, {'data': {'text': 'With a rim protector like Gobert though, the Kings will have to pick and choose their spots wisely. Lucky for them, they’ve been on a tear from Mid-Range over their last 12 games.', '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cldg8hu1e00153b7c892uin4r@published'}, {'data': {'url': 'https://twitter.com/will_zimmerle/status/1619059073600860160', 'html': '<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">In the last 12 games, the Kings are shooting 53.6% on Mid-Range FGs. For reference, the Nets lead the league on the season at 50.6%<br><br>During that stretch:<br> HB: 5-of-7 (71.4%)<br> Sabonis: 9-of-13 (69.2%)<br> Fox: 30-of-53 (56.6%)<br> Murray: 4-of-8 (50%)<br> Davion : 3-of-7 (42.9%)</p>— Will Z. Stats (@will_zimmerle) <a href="https://twitter.com/will_zimmerle/status/1619059073600860160?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 27, 2023</a></blockquote>\n', 'showMedia': True, 'showThread': True, 'componentVariation': 'tweet'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/tweet/instances/cldg8iokr001o3b7cgsugg7ws@published'}, {'data': {'text': 'Against a stout interior defense that is limiting opponents to 64.5%, 9th lowest in the league, the Kings could look to stop and pop from the Mid-Range to limit the effectiveness of Gobert.', '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cldg8j3dm001y3b7ckmrg7dnv@published'}], 'feedImg': {'data': {'alt': 'Mike Brown ', 'url': 'https://images.radio.com/aiu-media/GettyImages1458976497-a75071de-4cef-4792-ac1b-304abbf6caf2.jpg', 'width': 5018, 'credit': 'Getty Images', 'height': 3345, 'mimeType': 'image/jpeg', 'sizeInBytes': '1261953', 'componentVariation': 'feed-image'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/feed-image/instances/cldg8gssh000u01sdinzcs0dq@published'}, 'sources': [], '_version': 24, 'featured': False, 'headline': 'Kings vs. Timberwolves Preview – By the Numbers', 'msnTitle': 'Kings vs. Timberwolves Preview – By the Numbers', 'textTags': ['NBA', 'Sacramento Kings'], 'pageTitle': 'Kings vs. Timberwolves Preview – By the Numbers', 'sideShare': {'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/share/instances/cldg8gssh000v01sdd9q4awv5@published'}, 'feedImgUrl': 'https://images.radio.com/aiu-media/GettyImages1458976497-a75071de-4cef-4792-ac1b-304abbf6caf2.jpg', 'feedLayout': 'small', 'showSocial': True, 'stationURL': 'https://www.audacy.com/espn1320', 'breadcrumbs': [{'url': '//www.audacy.com/espn1320', 'text': 'ESPN 1320', 'hidden': False}, {'url': '//www.audacy.com/espn1320/sports', 'text': 'Sports', 'hidden': False}, {'url': '//www.audacy.com/espn1320/sports/sacramento-kings', 'text': 'Sacramento Kings', 'hidden': False}], 'contentType': 'article', 'seoHeadline': 'Kings vs. Timberwolves Preview – By the Numbers', 'stationName': 'ESPN 1320', 'stationSlug': 'espn1320', 'dateModified': '2023-01-28T17:40:06.407Z', 'featuredNews': True, 'sectionFront': 'sports', 'fullWidthLead': False, 'shortHeadline': 'Kings vs. Timberwolves Preview – By the Numbers', 'syndicatedUrl': None, 'unityPageType': 'article', 'featuredSports': True, 'msnTitleLength': 47, 'seoDescription': 'The Kings are off to Minnesota to start a 7-game road trip, their longest of the year, with the first of two straight games against the Timberwolves. 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Sacramento Kings

Kings vs. Timberwolves Preview – By the Numbers

By espn1320 Jan 28, 2023

The Kings are off to Minnesota to start a 7-game road trip, their longest of the year, with the first of two straight games against the Timberwolves. The Kings have yet to play Minnesota so far this season, so it will be a new test against the new look T-Wolves. Minnesota is on the second night of a back-to-back where they held on to beat the Grizzlies 111-100. It’s a good reminder to not take any team lightly on any night. Let’s dig into how the Kings are in for tonight.

The Timberwolves come into the game with the 19th ranked offense, 12th ranked defense, and 15th ranked Net Rating of 0.3. All very fitting numbers that match their 26-25 record. On offense, Minnesota does a great job at making their shots, especially inside the arc. Their 49.2% FG% is 4th highest in the NBA, and they are shooting 57.6% on 2-point FG’s is 57.6%, 3rd highest. They have a drastic drop in their 3-point shooting though, only making them at a 35.5% clip, 19th in the league. The good news for the Kings is that they actually have the T-Wolves beat in 2P%, as they lead the league at 58.4%, and have a huge advantage from 3 at 37.2% (8th).

The other limiting factor for the Timberwolves is their propensity to turning the ball over. They average 15.7 Turnovers per game, 3rd most in the NBA. It explains how they can have one of the best shooting percentages in the league but are a below average offensive team. The Kings are 8-1 when they get 10 or more steals, and this would be a perfect game for them to ratchet up the defensive activity. Increase the pressure, get in the passing lanes, make this team feel you and force them into turnovers for easy offense.

On the individual side, Anthony Edwards is having a career year. His 24.5 Points, 6.0 Rebounds, 4.5 Assists, 1.7 Steals, 45.9% FG% and 37.1% 3P% are all career highs. Looking at last years matchups, the Kings primarily used Harrison Barnes to guard Ant, as he guarded him for 14:09 minutes. He did a good job, limiting him to 5-of-11 (45.5%) from the field. What really stands out though is that in the 4:42 minutes that De’Aaron Fox guarded him, Ant shot 1-of-15 (6.7%). If Fox can do anything near that in tonight’s game, the Kings should give themselves a great shot to win.

Another area where the Kings can take advantage of is the Timberwolves tendency to foul. They commit 22.0 fouls per game (2nd) and their opponents shoot 25.6 Free Throws per game (3rd). Sacramento gets to the line 24.7 per night (11th), but have multiple players who can live at the line on any given night, as they have 3 players who are near the top of the league in FTA’s. Sabonis shoots 5.7 per night (21st), Fox is at 5.5 (24th), and Barnes is right behind at 5.1 (31st).

With a rim protector like Gobert though, the Kings will have to pick and choose their spots wisely. Lucky for them, they’ve been on a tear from Mid-Range over their last 12 games.

Against a stout interior defense that is limiting opponents to 64.5%, 9th lowest in the league, the Kings could look to stop and pop from the Mid-Range to limit the effectiveness of Gobert.

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