Future Hall of Famer Russell Westbrook is expected to join his new team when the Kings face the Los Angeles Lakers in their preseason finale Friday at Crypto.com Arena.
Westbrook signed with Sacramento on Thursday after agreeing to a reported one-year, $3.6 million deal. The team has not announced if Westbrook will be available to make his unofficial Kings debut against the Lakers.
The Kings (0-3) are still searching for their first preseason win following losses to the Toronto Raptors, Portland Trail Blazers and Los Angeles Clippers, but they will be shorthanded against the Lakers. Domantas Sabonis (hamstring), Keegan Murray (thumb) and Malik Monk (illness) have been ruled out. DeMar DeRozan (groin) is probable.
The Lakers (1-4) have problems of their own. LeBron James, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, is out with sciatica and isn’t expected to return until mid-November.
Here are three things to watch in Friday’s game.
Starting lineup
Kings coach Doug Christie started Dario Saric at power forward in Wednesday’s game against the Clippers after Murray had surgery to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his left thumb. Now, Christie will have to start someone in place of Sabonis after an MRI revealed a mild right hamstring strain.
Christie will probably go with veteran offseason acquisition Drew Eubanks or rookie second-round draft pick Maxime Raynaud, each of whom averaged 13.3 minutes in Sacramento’s first three preseason games.
Eubanks is averaging 5.7 points, 3.0 rebounds, 1.0 blocks and 0.7 steals while shooting 38.5% from the field. Raynaud is averaging 4.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 0.7 steals while shooting 41.7%.
Zach on the attack
Zach LaVine has been outstanding in Sacramento’s first three preseason games. The Kings will need a big night from their 30-year-old guard with Monk, Murray and Sabonis out.
LaVine is averaging a team-high 16.0 points, 3.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.3 steals in 22.8 minutes per game. He is scoring with expert efficiency, shooting 62.1% from the field and 50% from 3-point range on 6.0 attempts per game.
Rookie report
Rookie first-round draft pick Nique Clifford impressed in his first three preseason games, averaging 14.7 points, 3.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.3 steals in 23.2 minutes per game. He is shooting 51.6% from the field and 33.3% from 3-point range and 100% from the free-throw line.
Kings at Lakers
When: 7:30 p.m.
Where: Crypto.com Arena
TV: None
Online: Kings.com
Radio: Sactown Sports 1140
Odds: Lakers -6.5
Over/under: 227.5
Injury report
Clippers: Not yet submitted.
Kings: PROBABLE – DeMar DeRozan (groin). QUESTIONABLE – Malik Monk (illness). OUT – Keegan Murray (thumb).