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Kings vs. Suns Injury Report: Schroder (hip) questionable

The Sacramento Kings will look to secure a season-best third-straight win on Wednesday night when they face the Phoenix Suns at Golden 1 Center.

Sacramento (5-13) has looked like a new team following an impressive two-game win streak that includes a road win in Denver and a comeback overtime win against the Minnesota Timberwolves, the latter coming on Monday in front of a packed house at Golden 1 Center.

Have the Kings turned a corner? A win over the Suns would add to that notion, especially when you take into account the fact that Phoenix will be playing shorthanded in Sacramento.

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The Suns (11-7) will be without starting guards Graydon Allen (18.5 points per game this season) and Jalen Green (20.1 points per game average during career) on Wednesday due to injury. Phoenix forward Ryan Dunn (8.4 points per game) will also be sidelined.

Of course, Sacramento is dealing with its own injury problems.

Domantas Sabonis will miss at least the next three weeks due to a partially torn meniscus in his left knee. With Sabonis out, the Sacramento Kings have had to lean on veteran big man Drew Eubanks and recent 42nd overall pick Maxime Raynaud at the center spot.

The Kings could also be without guard Dennis Schroder (right hip soreness), who is questionable heading into Wednesday’s action.

Schroder, who was signed to be Sacramento’s starting point guard during the offseason, has thrived in a bench role since head coach Doug Christie made a rotation change on November 14th.

Over six games as a reserve, Schroder holds averages of 14.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 6.0 assists, and 1.5 turnovers per game on 42/38/71 shooting splits (27.0 minutes per contest).

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If Schroder is unable to go, the Kings will likely reshuffle their jam-packed rotation, which also includes Malik Monk, Nique Clifford, and Keon Ellis, who could be the main beneficiary of minutes if Schroder is ruled out.

More clarity on Schroder’s status will be provided in the hours leading into tip-off.

Here’s the full injury report as the Sacramento Kings aim to secure a third-straight win:

Sacramento Kings vs. Phoenix Suns Injury Report

Sacramento

Dennis Schroder – QUESTIONABLE (right hip soreness)

Domantas Sabonis – OUT (left knee, partial meniscus tear)

Dylan Cardwell – OUT (G League)

Daeqwon Plowden – OUT (G League)

Isaiah Stevens – OUT (G League)

Phoenix

Grayson Allen – OUT (right quadriceps contusion)

Ryan Dunn – OUT (right wrist sprain)

Jalen Green – OUT (right hamstring strain)

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Coming into the season, Sacramento Kings forward Keegan Murray claimed that he was aiming for the NBA’s Most Improved Player Award in his fourth season since being drafted fourth overall in the 2022 Draft.

In the three games he’s played since returning from injury, his increased comfort and aggression have been apparent.

Murray’s defensive positional versatility grew tremendously last season, but he statistically regressed from his sophomore campaign. He went from 12.2 points on 9.8 field-goal attempts per game in his rookie season to 15.2 points on 12.7 shots in year two.

Year three ended with the 6’8 forward at 12.4 points on 10.8 attempts and a career-low in FG% (44.4%) and three-point percentage (34.3%). Murray, who had a strong relationship with Mike Brown and (especially) De’Aaron Fox, was essential to Sacramento heading into 2025-26.

Severely lacking wing/forward depth, the 25-year-old was locked into their starting power forward position before tearing the UCL in his left thumb in the preseason. It left Sacramento Kings head coach Doug Christie’s roster shockingly thin already. Combine that with a gruelling early schedule, and Murray watched his squad get off to a 3-12 start.

Walking back into a desperate situation, I was curiously monitoring Murray’s level of aggression. While self-creation flashes had existed, although rare, with him in the past, it seemed like his lack of commanding the moment was preventing an authentic look into what was there.

In his three games since returning, Murray is averaging 18.7 points on 15.3 field-goal attempts per game. He tallied 26 points on 10/19 shooting in Monday’s win over Minnesota, while also filling in for the absence of Domantas Sabonis and pulling down a career-high 14 rebounds.