The Sacramento Kings will try to snap a three-game losing streak when they visit the Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday at Moda Center.
The Kings (6-20) are coming off a 117-103 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves. They have lost seven of eight and 15 of their last 18. The Kings are off to their worst start since 2010-11, when they went 5-21 over the first 26 games before finishing the season with a 24-58 record.
The Blazers (10-16) had lost three in a row and six of seven before posting a 136-131 win over the Golden State Warriors on Sunday. Shaedon Sharpe and Jerami grant scored 35 points apiece to help their team prevail despite a 48-point game by Steph Curry.
The Kings, who have yet to play a game at full strength this season, will be shorthanded as usual. Dennis Schroder is listed as questionable due to a right ankle sprain. Zach LaVine (left ankle sprain), Domantas Sabonis (left meniscus tear) and Drew Eubanks (left thumb avulsion fracture) are out.
The Blazers are missing some key players as well. Scoot Henderson (left hamstring tear), Jrue Holiday (right calf strain), Damian Lillard (left Achilles tear) and Matisse Thybulle (left thumb ligament tear) are out due to injuries.
Here are three keys to Thursday’s game.
Get Keegan going
The Kings will need more scoring from Keegan Murray with the likes of LaVine, Sabonis and possibly Schroder sidelined due to injuries.
Unfortunately, Murray has been dealing with injuries as well. He missed the fist 15 games of the season after undergoing surgery to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his left thumb. More recently, he has been playing through neck and shoulder issues.
Over the past seven games, Murray has averaged 12.7 points while shooting 40.2% from the field, 21.2% from 3-point range and 63.2% at the free throw line. He is still making his presence felt in other areas, averaging 8.4 rebounds, 1.9 steals and 2.1 blocks.
Youth movement
Sacramento is leaning into a youth movement with an emphasis on developing the team’s younger players.
Rookie second-round draft pick Maxime Raynaud has logged increased minutes in recent weeks. Over the last seven games, including four starts, Raynaud has averaged 14.4 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 0.9 blocks while shooting 57.7% from the field and 50% from 3-point range.
Rookie first-round draft pick Nique Clifford has not adjusted as well to an increased role. Over the last six games, Clifford has averaged 5.2 points in 18.2 minutes per contest, shooting 43.8% from the field and 23.1% from 3-point range.
Slowing Shaedon Sharpe
The Kings will have their hands full with Sharpe, who is averaging 24.0 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.7 steals over the past six games.
Sharpe has been lighting it up from 3-point range over the past three games, shooting a scorching 75% from beyond the arc. He went 3 of 3 against the Memphis Grizzlies on Dec. 7, 4 of 6 against the New Orleans Pelicans on Dec. 11 and 5 of 7 against the Warriors on Sunday.
Kings at Blazers
When: 7 p.m.
Where: Moda Center
TV: NBC Sports California
Radio: Sactown Sports 1140
Odds: Trail Blazers -9.5
Over/under: 237.5
Injury report
Kings: QUESTIONABLE — Dennis Schroder (ankle). OUT — Devin Carter (G League); Drew Eubanks (thumb); Zach LaVine (ankle); Daeqwon Plowden (G League); Domantas Sabonis (knee); Isaiah Stevens (G League).
Blazers: OUT — Javonte Cooke (G League); Scoot Henderson (hamstring); Jrue Holiday (calf); Damian Lillard (Achilles); Matisse Thybulle (thumb); Blake Wesley (foot).