Utah Jazz at Sacramento Kings: Keys to righting the ship

LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 13: Sacramento Kings Guard De'Aaron Fox (5) and Sacramento Kings Guard Buddy Hield (24) look on during an NBA game between the Sacramento Kings and the Los Angeles Clippers on January 06, 2018 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 13: Sacramento Kings Guard De'Aaron Fox (5) and Sacramento Kings Guard Buddy Hield (24) look on during an NBA game between the Sacramento Kings and the Los Angeles Clippers on January 06, 2018 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
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SACRAMENTO, CA – JANUARY 11: Vince Carter #15, George Hill #3 and Garrett Temple #17 of the Sacramento Kings react during the game against the Los Angeles Clippers on January 11, 2018 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)
SACRAMENTO, CA – JANUARY 11: Vince Carter #15, George Hill #3 and Garrett Temple #17 of the Sacramento Kings react during the game against the Los Angeles Clippers on January 11, 2018 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)

Prediction – Jazz 110, Kings 98

Alright, so considering how poorly the Jazz have played of late, pinning them as 12-point victors is probably a bit over-optimistic. But who cares?! I’m going with it anyway!

The Jazz have been down and out of late, but I have a feeling they’re going to come into Sacramento with a massive chip on their shoulders, anxious to shake the monkey off their backs and prove that they’re more than capable of beating a team that is significantly less talented. I know that road bouts haven’t been kind to the Jazz, but even so, tonight’s contest against the Kings is still one where Utah should come out on top.

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And if I end up being wrong, well, then it probably means that the Jazz’s problems run even deeper than we know. It’s been a rough stretch for Utah of late, but a loss to the Kings on top of it all could very well be the hardest pill to swallow of all. Let’s hope a determined and rejuvenated Jazz team is the one that hits the floor tonight and reverses their recent fate.

The game will tip-off at 8:00 PM MT tonight. Following the bout against the Kings, the Jazz will play back-to-back home games against the New York Knicks on Friday and LA Clippers on Saturday.