Orlando @ Sacramento preview

Last Meeting ( Jan 23, 2018 ) Sacramento 105, Orlando 99

The Sacramento Kings are mired among a quartet of teams at the bottom of the Western Conference, but they have a chance for a winning five-game homestand when they take on the Orlando Magic on Friday. The Kings alternated wins and losses through the first four games of the homestand, dropping a 114-101 decision to the red-hot New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday.

"It seemed like everything was real difficult," Sacramento coach Dave Joerger told the media. "We missed a lot of open shots also, which certainly would have helped." The Magic enjoyed a winning homestand of their own before dropping back-to-back games to begin a five-game road trip. They fell 108-107 on Wednesday at the Los Angeles Lakers and were steamed after the contest when a clock malfunction with six-tenths of a second left took the ball from Orlando and prompted a jump ball. "We feel cheated," forward Aaron Gordon told reporters. "... They gave them the game. ... It's just a terrible end to a game of basketball. They didn't even give us a chance to win. And that's the last time we see [the Lakers]. We have to wait a year to play them again. They have gotta change that rule, and I think they will."


TV: 10 p.m. ET, FS Florida (Orlando), NBCS California (Sacramento)

ABOUT THE MAGIC (20-45): Gordon earned the right to do the talking after the controversial finish, as he owned much of the contest. The talented 22-year-old scored 28 points while making 4-of-6 3-pointers and chipped in 14 rebounds in 36 minutes. Gordon is averaging 20.5 points in four games this month and center Nikola Vucevic is posting 20 points and 10.5 rebounds after going for 24 and 12 against the Lakers.

ABOUT THE KINGS (20-45): The rookie backcourt of De'Aaron Fox and Bogdan Bogdanovic had a woeful effort against the Pelicans, as Fox managed just five minutes before leaving with a back issue and Bogdanovic finished 0-for-6 from the floor in 26 scoreless minutes. Buddy Hield attempted to keep his team close with 20 points and he's making 47.1 percent of his 3-point tries in 31 home games. Sacramento is 5-4 at home against the East, compared to 5-18 against the West.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Magic SG Evan Fournier suffered a sprained MCL in his left knee against the Lakers and has been ruled out for this one.

2. Kings C Willie Cauley-Stein (back) has missed three straight games.

3. Sacramento SF Garrett Temple scored a career-high 34 points - well above his season average of 8.2 - in a 105-99 win at Orlando on Jan. 23.

PREDICTION: Magic 105, Kings 103