Sacramento @ New York preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 9, 2016 ) New York 103, Sacramento 100

The New York Knicks are winners of six of their last eight games, but the health status of star forward Kristaps Porzingis is concerning. The Knicks hope to have Porzingis back on the floor when they host the Sacramento Kings on Saturday.

Porzingis sat out a 112-99 loss at Orlando on Wednesday with elbow soreness and indicated to reporters that it is an ongoing issue. "It bothers me a little bit but not that bad," Porzingis said, according to the New York Post. "It's always, I have to get the swelling down and then I'll be fine again. But I think once the season's over I might have to do something about it. I just can't keep going like this every year." The Kings are winners of back-to-back games after dropping seven in a row and are watching their own young players try to become stars. Rookie point guard De'Aaron Fox went 4-of-13 from the floor on Thursday but knocked down the most important shot of the contest with a go-ahead jumper in the final seconds to seal a 109-108 win over the Philadelphia 76ers.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, NBCS California (Sacramento), MSG (New York)

ABOUT THE KINGS (3-8): Fox, 19, is averaging 12.3 points in 27 minutes off the bench and is earning the respect of the team's veterans. "For that guy, at that age, to be able to take that shot after the shooting night that he had, even when the play may not have been drawn up that way, that just shows guts," veteran guard Garrett Temple said, according to the Sacramento Bee. "A lot of guts, a lot of gall to be able to take that shot and make it. Pure." Fox logged 11 more minutes on Thursday than starting point guard George Hill, who managed two points on 0-of-4 shooting in 19 minutes.

ABOUT THE KNICKS (6-5): Porzingis became the unquestioned star of the Knicks when Carmelo Anthony was traded on the eve of training camp and is optimistic about the direction of the team. "I think we have better fundamentals," Porzingis told the New York Daily News. "Defensively, we're going after it every night. We may not do it 48 minutes, but there are parts of the game where we actually lock in. We do our defensive system the right way. And we just play hard. That's the main difference." Porzingis is leading that defensive effort with an average of 2.3 blocks while putting up 30 points on 51.2 percent shooting at the other end of the floor.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Kings PF Zach Randolph is averaging 18.3 points over the last four games and posted a season-high 20 on Thursday.

2. Knicks SF Tim Hardaway Jr. is averaging 21.7 points over the last seven games after putting up 9.8 in the first four.

3. New York took both meetings last season despite Porzingis going a combined 12-of-37 from the floor.

PREDICTION: Knicks 106, Kings 99