The Sacramento Kings will have to deal with De’Aaron Fox when they visit the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday at Frost Bank Center, but they might not have to face the imposing presence of Victor Wembanyama.
Wembanyama is listed as questionable due to left calf tightness. Dylan Harper, the No. 2 pick in June’s NBA draft, is out with a left calf strain.
The Kings are listing Domantas Sabonis as questionable as he continues to deal with a left ribcage contusion. Precious Achiuwa is questionable due to illness.
The Kings (3-10) have lost five in a row. They opened a five-game road trip with a 124-110 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday.
The Spurs (8-4) are coming off back-to-back losses to the Golden State Warriors after winning eight of 10 to start the season.
Here are three keys to Sunday’s game.
Wembanyama’s status
The Kings could catch a big break if Wembanyama is ruled out. The 7-foot-4 phenom continues to emerge as an unstoppable force who could dominate the NBA for years to come.
Wembanyama is averaging 26.2 points, 12.9 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 3.6 blocks and 1.1 steals. He is shooting 50.2% from the field, 34.5% from 3-point range and 85.7% at the free throw line on 7.0 attempts per game.
Wembanyama scored a season-high 38 points in a win over the Chicago Bulls on Nov. 10. He had 18 rebounds in an Oct. 30 win over the Miami Heat and nine blocked shots in an Oct. 24 win over the New Orleans Pelicans.
Fox watch
The Kings will face Fox for the second time since trading him to the Spurs in February. He struggled a bit in his return to Sacramento in March, scoring 16 points on 6-of-17 shooting with four rebounds and eight assists in a 127-109 loss to the Kings.
Fox has only appeared in four games this season after being sidelined due to a hamstring injury. He is averaging 20.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 1.0 steals while shooting 50% from the field, 33.3% from 3-point range and 90.9% at the free throw line.
Will Sabonis play?
Sabonis has been playing through pain and discomfort since bruising his ribs in a Nov. 11 loss to the Denver Nuggets. The Kings won’t be the same without his scoring, rebounding and playmaking if he is unable to play against the Spurs.
The three-time All-NBA center is averaging 17.2 points, 12.2 rebounds and 3.6 assists. He had a season-high 34 points and 11 rebounds in Friday’s loss to the Timberwolves.
Kings at Spurs
When: 1 p.m.
Where: Frost Bank Center
TV: NBC Sports California
Radio: Sactown Sports 1140
Odds: Spurs -7.5
Over/under: 237.5
Injury report
Kings: QUESTIONABLE — Precious Achiuwa (illness); Domantas Sabonis (ribs). OUT — Dylan Cardwell (G League); Keegan Murray (thumb); Daeqwon Plowden (G League); Isaiah Stevens (G League).
Spurs: QUESTIONABLE — Victor Wembanyama (calf). OUT — Dylan Harper (calf); David Jones Garcia (G League); Riley Minix (G League).