Sacramento @ Oklahoma City preview

Last Meeting ( Jan 29, 2020 ) Oklahoma City 120, Sacramento 100

The Oklahoma City Thunder aim for their fifth consecutive victory and 14th in 17 contests when they host the Sacramento Kings on Thursday. The Thunder let a 24-point, second-quarter lead evaporate on Tuesday before holding on for a 124-122 road triumph against the Chicago Bulls.

Oklahoma's City large bulge was much needed against the Bulls as Zach LaVine (41 points) and rookie Coby White (season-best 35) shot Chicago back into the game before the Thunder clamped down on defense in the final two minutes. "I think they understand that it's just not going to be smooth sailing on the road. There's going to be challenges," Oklahoma City coach Billy Donovan told reporters, "and I think that when it gets hard, our guys really, really kind of pull together." Sacramento posted a 112-94 road win over the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday for its third straight win and ninth in 13 games, and the surge is creating talk of joining the Western Conference playoff race. "It's a big goal," Kings coach Luke Walton told reporters about being part of the postseason. "But the way you achieve a big goal is by focusing on the present and what we're working on, and showing up and playing a certain style every night. If we do that, we'll give ourselves a better chance to achieve the big goal at the end of the day."

TIME: 8 p.m. ET. TV: NBCS California, FS Oklahoma

ABOUT THE KINGS (24-33): Standout point guard De'Aaron Fox scored 21 points against Golden State for his third straight 20-point effort despite leaving temporarily with groin tightness in addition to battling through a sore left shoulder. "It's motivating," veteran swingman Kent Bazemore said of Fox. "You can see him wincing out there, but he's pushing through. It means a lot that he's bought in. We have his back and he is still demanding a lot of attention, dominating the game." Backup shooting guard Buddy Hield made five 3-pointers while scoring 19 points against the Warriors after struggling to seven points in the previous contest against the Los Angeles Clippers.

ABOUT THE THUNDER (36-22): Veteran forward Danilo Gallinari sparked Oklahoma City early in the win over Chicago by making five 3-pointers in the opening quarter when he scored 19 of his team-high 24 points. "We were just moving the ball and my teammates were finding me at the right time," Gallinari told reporters. "It was just ball movement and good rhythm." Shooting guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (21 points, 11 rebounds), backup guard Dennis Schroder (21 points) and point guard Chris Paul (19 points, nine assists) also had solid efforts as the Thunder moved 14 games above .500 and continue to exceed expectations after the offseason trades of Russell Westbrook and Paul George.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. The Thunder rolled to a 120-100 win at Sacramento on Jan. 29 after the Kings won four of the previous five matchups.

2. Oklahoma City reserve C Nerlens Noel has made all eight of his field-goal attempts over the past two games.

3. Sacramento SF Harrison Barnes is averaging 22 points during the three-game winning streak and has made 12-of-22 from 3-point range during the span.

PREDICTION: Thunder 114, Kings 109