Sacramento Kings: Game Predictions for DeMarcus Cousins and the Team in April

Consistency has been an inconsistent commodity for the Sacramento Kings all season, but with just one month to go in the regular season, DeMarcus Cousins and company need some now more than ever.

The Kings currently sit at 17-32 and are all but eliminated from playoff contention. While Keith Smart has been hard at work building up the youthful squad and seeing some improvement, Sacramento still has a ways to go before they can consistently compete in every contest.

The Kings have 14 games on the schedule for April, and while eight of those contests are at home, only four matchups are against teams with a record below .500. 

How will DeMarcus Cousins and the Kings fair in the final month of the season?

Let's take a look.

April 2 vs. Minnesota

The Timberwolves took the first two matchups between the two squads, both of which were in Minnesota, but in their first trip to Sacramento the Kings trounced the Wolves 115-99 on March 18. Cousins had one of his weakest performances of the season, scoring just nine points to go with two rebounds, but the Kings demolished the Wolves from start to finish.

Cousins will have to contend with center Nikola Pekovic this time, as Pekovic missed the March 18 game due to injury. Cousins hasn't had a good game against the Wolves yet this season, averaging just 9.7 points and 5.7 rebounds on 34.5 percent shooting.

While I don't expect Cousins to break the trend and dominate, I do expect the Kings can handle the Wolves again at home.

Prediction: Cousins scores 13 points and grabs eight boards as the Kings win 108-97 over the Timberwolves.

April 3 at Phoenix

In two games this season against Phoenix, both of which were Kings losses, Cousins averaged 21.5 points and 11.5 rebounds but shot just 39 percent. He matches up well with Marcin Gortat, but the Kings lost both times as Steve Nash and company carved them up from the perimeter.

The Kings have been playing better on the road as of late but can't close out in close games—as evident by last-minute defeats to Golden State and Houston in the past week.

While Phoenix remains one of the easiest teams on the Kings schedule, they have something the Kings don't really have much of—veteran intelligence.

Expect Nash to pull off another one for the Suns.

Prediction: Cousins has 24 points and 14 rebounds, but the Kings fall to Phoenix 97-90.

April 5 vs. Los Angeles Clippers

The Kings may be 17-32, but they have some very impressive wins at home on their season resume. They've beaten the Lakers and the Thunder at Power Balance Pavilion, and while they ended up losing their first matchup with the Clippers, 108-100, they kept up with Los Angeles for most of the game. Cousins had 23 points and 10 rebounds in the loss.

I expect this matchup to go Sacramento's way. The Clippers have struggled to live up to their early season expectations, and the Kings have shown an ability to rise to the challenge against high profile squads.

DeAndre Jordan is a good matchup against Cousins, but I predict Big Cuz will thrive in the Kings victory.

Prediction: Kings win 112-101 as Cousins gets 26 points and nine rebounds. 

April 7 at Los Angeles Clippers

An immediate rematch in Los Angeles won't likely fare so well for Sacramento. The Kings are 13-10 at home, but they're just 4-22 on the road.

The Clippers, meanwhile, are 11-13 away from Staples Center but are 17-8 at home. Even if the Kings pull off a win against the Clippers in Sacramento, it's far less likely they can beat Chris Paul and Blake Griffin in Los Angeles.

Prediction: Cousins has 18 points and seven rebounds but fouls out in the fourth quarter as the Kings fall 110-96.

April 8 vs. Houston

The Rockets are decimated by injuries, with key starters Kyle Lowry and Kevin Martin likely out for multiple weeks. Still, Houston managed a 113-106 win over Sacramento last Monday despite a career high 38 point performance from Cousins. He finished with 14 rebounds and 15-26 shooting.

With the script flipped back to Sacramento, this should be an easy win for the Kings at home. The Rockets have no one who can guard Cousins, and the Kings should easily get revenge.

Prediction: Cousins has 36 points and 18 rebounds in a Kings blowout 114-88 win.

April 10 at Dallas

The last time the Kings played in Dallas, they had one of the most embarrassing performances of the Sacramento era in a 99-60 loss to the Mavericks.

The made up for it on March 9 with a 110-97 beatdown of the Mavs in Sacramento despite a slow game for Cousins where he had just 15 points and four rebounds.

With this final rematch in Dallas, I don't expect the Kings to win, but I do expect them to play a lot better than their first contest in Dallas.

Prediction: Cousins has 17 points and 11 rebounds but the Kings fall to the Mavericks 105-98.

April 11 at New Orleans

The second most winnable game left on the Kings' schedule is a mtachup in New Orleans against the Hornets.

Yes, the Hornets almost won in Sacramento in early March (the Kings prevailed 99-98 in the final seconds), but New Orleans holds the leagues second worst record (12-37) for a reason.

Cousins will find little resistance in the paint in terms of matchup size, but he was bothered last time by the Hornets relentless defensive. Still, I expect the Kings to win.

Prediction: Cousins has 21 points and 12 rebounds as the Kings win 106-99.

April 13 at Oklahoma City

April 13 will mark the first of two matchups in Oklahoma City for Sacramento. While the Kings won against the Thunder in Sacramento on February 9, the Thunder are atop of the Western Conference for a reason.

Cousins had 19 points and nine rebounds in the Kings 106-101 victory in Sacramento, but he's got to deal with Kendrick Perkins inside, and with the game in Oklahoma City, I don't see much hope for a Kings win.

Prediction: Kings are blown out for the first time in April as they fall 114-90. Cousins finishes with 16 points and 10 rebounds in the loss.

April 15 Against Portland

The Kings are 1-2 against the Blazers so far this season, with their lone win a 95-92 nail-bitter at home on February 2.

Cousins has been held pretty much in check by LaMarcus Aldridge and the Blazers big men in their first three matchups. He's averaged 14 points and 10 boards on 43.5 percent shooting against Portland so far this season.

But the Blazers have switched tracks since their last matchup in Sacramento and are now completely on full tank mode. The Kings have all the advantages in this one.

Prediction: Cousins has 18 points and 12 rebounds in a 101-88 win over Portland.

April 18 Against San Antonio

The Kings fell against the Spurs last night at home after winning a contest earlier this season in San Antonio.

The Kings needed near perfect execution down the stretch in February to defeat the veteran Spurs, and on Wednesday, San Antonio came out with a far better battle plan and won 117-112.

The Spurs are underrated this season, and I don't expect this late April matchup will be any different.

Prediction: Cousins has 24 points and 13 boards, but the Kings lose another one down the stretch to the veteran Spurs.

April 20 Against Oklahoma City

The second of the three matchups between these two teams will take place in Sacramento, with the Kings looking to repeat their early February victory against the Thunder.

While I predicted the Kings would be blown out in Oklahoma City, I believe the Kings can stay much closer with the Thunder with their fans behind them. Still, the Thunder have too many weapons, and far too much motivation to stay ahead in the race to the playoffs.

Prediction: Cousins has 26 points and 14 rebounds but shoots below 40 percent as the Kings fall 110-105.

April 22 at Charlotte

The most winnable contest on the April schedule is a matchup with the 7-40 overall Bobcats.

Charlotte has nothing going for them this year, and their only chance at redemption is a top selection in 2012. Cousins and the Kings should feast against the dreary Charlotte squad.

This matchup will offer a chance for the Kings to take a look at Bismack Biyombo, the forward they drafted with the seventh overall pick in the 2011 draft before they traded his rights to Charlotte in a deal that brought them back the rights to Jimmer Fredette. 

Hindsight is of course 20/20, but the Kings should have drafted Biyombo for themselves and paired him up inside next to Cousins.

Prediction: Cousins will have 25 points and 13 rebounds but will be bothered all game long by Biyombo, and Kings fans will regret trading Biyombo on draft day.

April 24 at Oklahoma City

I managed to go two slides about the Thunder without mentioning Russell Westbrook's nasty dunk against Sacramento back on February 9. If you haven't seen it already, it's jaw-dropping.

Anyway, this will be the third matchup between these squads for the month, so by this point they'll be used to and sick of playing each other.

I predicted two Thunder wins so far, and I see no reason to change that here, especially with this game in Oklahoma City. Unless the Thunder begin resting their starters for the Playoffs, they should thrive at home.

Prediction: Cousins has 17 points and 14 rebounds in a 107-94 loss.

April 26 Against Los Angeles Lakers

The Kings started the season with a 100-91 win over the Lakers in Sacramento, and I predict they'll end the season with a similar result.

Sacramento hasn't been consistently good in years, but they always seem to perform well against the hated Lakers. Kobe Bryant, as always, will carve up the Kings defense, but Cousins will manage to out-duel Andrew Bynum, and the rowdy young Kings squad will end the season with a bang.

Prediction: Cousins has 21 points and 15 rebounds as Sacramento wins 105-97.