Kings vs. Bulls preview: Kings open their season at Chicago

Coming off a 22-44 season, the Sacramento Kings will open the 2012-13 season on Wednesday against the Chicago Bulls.

The Kings will begin the season with a starting lineup similar to the one they finished last season with, although a few key players have another year of experience. Wednesday's season opener will also be the first NBA game for Thomas Robinson, who Sacramento selected with the No. 5 pick in the 2012 NBA Draft.

Sacramento struggled on the road last season, winning just six of 33 road games. The Kings will face a Bulls team which will be without superstar point guard Derrick Rose who is still recovering from a knee injury suffered last season.

Wednesday's game should be a good early test for DeMarcus Cousins, who will go up against one of the better interior defenders in the league in Joakim Noah. Cousins averaged 18.1 points and 11 rebounds last season.

Sacramento's season opener is scheduled to tipoff at 5 p.m. PT and will be broadcast on CSN-CA. The Kings opened as a 7-point underdog.