Sacramento Kings vs. Los Angeles Lakers: What to know ahead of the first of 3 games
The Sacramento Kings and Los Angeles Lakers will face off three times over the next nine days, with Thursday’s matchup at Golden 1 Center tipping things off.
While the former hated rivals will see plenty of one another in the coming days, the status of some key players remains in question heading into the first Kings vs. Lakers showdown.
After missing two games due to a foot injury, Lakers star forward LeBron James returned on Sunday afternoon, scoring 18 points over 34 minutes of action. James said the foot injury will be “an everyday thing” going forward, a lingering issue that could keep him out of Thursday’s game in Sacramento.
The Lakers currently have James listed as questionable for their game against the Kings due to left foot injury management.
The Kings will get at least one key rotation player back on Thursday, as veteran forward Trey Lyles is not listed on the injury report vs. Los Angeles.
Lyles appears to be good to go after missing the past nine games due to a right calf strain, and he will rejoin a Sacramento rotation that is running on fumes at the forward positions.
After suffering a back injury during Monday’s 130-129 loss to Denver, Kings center Domantas Sabonis was absent for Wednesday’s practice session. Sabonis, known for his durability and dislike of missing games, is listed as questionable against the Lakers due to a back contusion, but his participation in Thursday’s shootaround bodes well for his availability.
The three-time All-Star will go through his pregame workout routine and see how he feels before a decision is made on his status.
“I’m feeling better for sure,” Sabonis said following shootaround. “I’ll go out there [for pregame workouts] and see how I feel.”
Like Sabonis, starting forward Keegan Murray (left ankle soreness) and Kevin Huerter (left AC joint sprain) are also listed as questionable against Los Angeles.
Murray was also present for Thursday’s shootaround, and the third-year forward told the media that he hopes to be in the lineup against the Lakers.
“I’m good. Ready to get back on the court tonight,” Murray said of his injured ankle–an injury that occurred during Sacramento’s win over Houston on December 3rd.
After attempting to play through pain and swelling, Murray sat for the first time this season during Monday’s game against the Nuggets. The Iowa product said he will try to be better about playing through injuries going forward, adding that the couple of days off have benefited his recovery process.
“I felt good enough to play those games, but I think it just caught up to me,” Murray said. “We were able to [get the swelling down] to a point where I’m comfortable enough to play, so that’s where I’m at.”
Huerter was on the floor going through workouts with the training staff. If Huerter is held out of Thursday’s game, it’s fair to expect he will return in the near future, possibly as soon as this weekend.
Here’s the full injury report for both teams as the Kings look to get back in the win column against the Lakers:
Sacramento
- Domantas Sabonis – QUESTIONABLE (back contusion)
- Kevin Huerter – QUESTIONABLE (left AC joint sprain)
- Keegan Murray – QUESTIONABLE (left ankle soreness)
- Devin Carter – OUT (left shoulder surgery)
- Mason Jones – OUT (G-League)
Los Angeles
- Anthony Davis – PROBABLE (left plantar fasciitis)
- LeBron James – QUESTIONABLE (left foot injury management)
- Jaxson Hayes – OUT (left ankle sprain)
- Christian Wood – OUT (left knee surgery recovery)
- Jarred Vanderbilt – OUT (right foot surgery recovery)
- Jalen Hood-Schifino – OUT (left hamstring strain)
- Bronny James – OUT (G-League)
- Maxwell Lewis – OUT (G-League)
This article first appeared on Sactown Sports.
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