The Oklahoma City Thunder and Sacramento Kings will experience their first NBA Cup game of the year Friday night, when Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Russell Westbrook face off in California's capital.

Oklahoma City opened the year with eight straight wins before suffering a 121-119 loss at Portland on Wednesday night, blowing a 22-point lead in the second game of a back-to-back.

The Kings, on the other hand, are coming off one of their best wins of the season, a 121-116 home triumph over their Northern California rivals, the Golden State Warriors, on Wednesday, despite playing without Domantas Sabonis, Zach LaVine and Keegan Murray.

The West Group A combatants have already met once this season, with the Thunder needing a 17-4 game-ending run to avoid an upset and halt their season-opening

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