The Sacramento Kings will try to snap a four-game losing streak when they visit the Miami Heat in the second game of a three-game road trip Saturday at Kaseya Center.
The Kings (5-17) are off to their worst start since 2010-11, when they went 5-23 to start the season. They have lost four in a row and 12 of their last 14.
Kings guard Dennis Schroder will miss his fifth consecutive game with a right hip flexor strain. Three-time All-NBA center Domantas Sabonis is still sidelined due to a partial meniscus tear in his left knee.
The Heat (14-9) will be on the second night of a back-to-back after suffering a 106-105 loss to the Orlando Magic on Friday. Miami has lost two in a row and three of its last four.
The Heat won’t submit an injury report until Saturday afternoon, but Tyler Herro could be out after missing Friday’s game due to right big toe irritation.
Here are three keys to Saturday’s game.
More Max
Rookie center Maxime Raynaud is making the most of his opportunity after taking on a larger role with Sabonis out due to injury.
Raynaud has flourished over the past three games, ranking second on the team in scoring while averaging 17.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.0 blocks in 25.5 minutes per game.
Raynaud scored a career-high 19 points on 7-of-11 shooting in a 128-119 loss to the Utah Jazz on Nov. 28. He surpassed that mark with 25 points on 10-of-15 shooting in Wednesday’s 121-95 loss to the Houston Rockets.
Herro’s status
Herro recently returned to Miami’s lineup after missing the first 17 games of the season while recovering from surgery to repair a left ankle/foot impingement, but now he is dealing with a toe injury.
Herro has appeared in five games, averaging 23.8 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.2 steals while shooting 52.4% from the field and 48.4% from 3-point range. He scored 20 or more in all five games, including a season-high 29 in a win over the Milwaukee Bucks on Nov. 26.
Size and rebounding
The Kings will have to contend with Miami’s size and rebounding.
The Heat is third in the NBA in defensive rebounds (35.4) and fifth in total rebounds (45.9). Miami often starts Bam Adebayo, who is 6-foot-9 and 260 pounds, with Kel’el Ware, who is 7 feet tall and 250 pounds.
Ware averages 10.6 rebounds per game. Adebayo averages 8.8 rebounds.
Kings at Heat
When: 5 p.m.
Where: Toyota Center
TV: NBC Sports California
Radio: Sactown Sports 1140
Odds: Heat -8.5
Over/under: 237.5
Injury report
Kings: OUT — Dylan Cardwell (G League); Daeqwon Plowden (G League); Domantas Sabonis (knee); Dennis Schroder (hip); Isaiah Stevens (G League).
Heat: Not yet submitted.