Thunder vs Kings Preview: OKC faces last-place Sacremento, be afraid Thunder Nation, be very afraid.

The Oklahoma City Thunder try to extend their current winning streak to two games against the lottery-bound Sacramento Kings at 7 p.m. cst. The game is in front of the home fans, which should get the Thunder over the hump, but the fact remains that a talented Thunder team that should be riding high in the standings is 9 and 8 against teams whose futures will depend on the number of ping-pong balls with their name on it go in a hopper.

Prior to the LA trip, Paul George didn’t want to use the word complacent but admitted the team tended to not go into games like this with the necessary focus. His admission fueled the only throttling of a lottery team by the Thunder this season. Unfortunately, the effect was short-lived and the Thunder were right back in the “I don’t want to call it complacent” complacent mode just two games later and dropped an embarrassing 14 point affair to the lowly Suns. Tonight’s game will be the second game since Melo said he didn’t want to say the team looked past weak opponents but admitted that a change in mentality was necessary from here on. Strangely enough, if not for Ray Felton and the bench’s, lovingly known from here on as Fats Felton and the Scrubs, early 4th quarter explosion against the Hornets, the Thunder would be 8 and 9 against lottery fodder. Perhaps Melo meant “from here on - after we go to Charlotte”.Andre Roberson went through an entire light practice Sunday but is still listed out for Monday’s game and the King’s rookie PG Frank Mason is suffering from a partial tear of the plantar fascistic tendon and will be out till at least the end of the month.

There shouldn’t be any question about the outcome of this game, but unfortunately, there is. In the very recent past, Robes out + lottery team + missing opposing PG = trouble. If the Thunder have a problem having that pointed out, then they should take care of their business and kick some King booties.