Published on: Oct 4, 2019 2:47 am IST|Updated on: Oct 4, 2019 4:56 pm IST
Basketball powerhouse Sacramento Kings kick-starts their NBA Pre-season 2019 campaign with a game against Indiana Pacers at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Indoor Stadium (The Dome).
They are finally here. The giants, all above six feet, and some of them beyond 7 feet, they are ready to woo the people of India for the first time. And the Indians have embraced the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity with both hands, buying all the tickets the organized offered within a few hours.
It justifies the reason for bringing this game to India, to the unchartered territories, to the 3rd and world. Because there is a hunger for this sport, and more so, for all the superstars the fans can only see on their screens. But India is growing, with more young population than anywhere else in the world. In a gist, it’s a market, the untapped one.
MATCH DETAILS: What competition it is? NBA Pre-season 2019 The match will be played between Sacramento Kings and Indiana Pacers at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Indoor Stadium, in Mumbai, India. The arena has a capacity of 8,000. Match Day: October 04, 2019, @ 07:00 PM IST
Broadcast details:
Sony Sports Network has the rights to stream NBA Pre-season 2019 in India. Premier members can also catch the Live-Action on SonyLiv App.
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Expect both the teams to go for the win!
It really is serious stuff. The pre-season not only offers the practice time, but it’s an opportunity for the head coaches to test the bench strength of the team, and for the big player, the game is all about getting rid of the rustiness and improving match fitness.
Sacramento Kings new head coach Luke Walton has a point to prove as well after failing to guide Los Angeles Lakers back into the post-season. The 39-year-old has a young but talented squad at his disposal, with many pundits predicting a postseason for them, which will be the first since 2006.
IND vs SAC Dream11 team News:
Sacramento Kings:
No injury or suspension to contend with for Sacramento Kings ahead of this game.
Indiana Pacers:
Indiana Pacers could be without four or five key players for this game. But none is bigger than Victor Oladipo, Indiana Pacers’ only All-Star in 2018. The 27-year-old Guard suffered a ruptured quadriceps tendon in his right knee this past January and has been out of action since. Goga Bitadze is also spending his time in the treatment room these days as he recovers from a sprained right ankle.
In addition, TJ Leaf (right quad strain) and CJ Wilcox (right quad strain) will both be monitored before the game.
Squad for the NBA Pre-season 2019:
Sacramento Kings squad:
Nemanja Bjelica, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Trevor Ariza, Marvin Bagley III, Harrison Barnes, Dewayne Dedmon, Harry Giles III, Kyle Guy, Buddy Hield, Eric Mika, Isaiah Pineiro, Caleb Swanigan, Tyler Ulis, Yogi Ferrell, De’Aaron Fox, Wenyen Gabriel, Richaun Holmes, Justin James, Cory Joseph, Tyler Lydon
Indiana Pacers Squad:
Malcolm Brogdon, JaKeenan Gant, Jeremy Lamb, Myles Turner, T. J. Warren, C. J. Wilcox, T. J. Leaf, T. J. McConnell, Aaron Holiday, Goga Bitadze, Brian Bowen II, Amida Brimah, Alize Johnson, Doug McDermott, Naz Long, Victor Oladipo, Domas Sabonis, JaKarr Sampson, Edmond Summer
Players to watch out for: (Captain options):
Buddy Hield: Led the scoring charts for Kings last season and was the only player to average in the 20s. With the maturity on his side, he can be more effective this season.
Last season:
Bogdan Bogdanovic: If the 2019 FIBA World Cup is the standard he can operate on, then he had a very average 2018-19 season. Expect the 27-year-old Serbian to be more potent this season.
Myles Turner: Led the entire NBA in blocks per game last season. With him in top form, expect Indiana Pacers to be more consistent with the results this season.
IND vs SAC Dream11 Teams (Starting Lineup; Probables):
Likely to feature from the bench:
IND vs SAC Dream11 Teams:
INDIA FANTASY PREDICTION
Sacramento Kings will start the game as favourites.