The Kings will face the Trail Blazers for the second time in 48 hours on Saturday at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento after suffering a heartbreaking loss in Portland.
Blazers forward Jerami Grant is considered questionable due to left Achilles tendon soreness after putting up 20 points, nine rebounds and five assists in a controversial 134-133 overtime victory Thursday at Moda Center.
The Kings will be shorthanded again with Domantas Sabonis (knee), Zach LaVine (ankle) and Drew Eubanks (thumb) out due to injuries. Doug McDermott is questionable due to left knee soreness.
The Kings (6-21) have lost four in a row and eight of their last nine to fall into a tie for 13th in the Western Conference. They are tied with the Indiana Pacers and Los Angeles Clippers for the third-worst record in the NBA with a .222 winning percentage.
The Blazers (11-16) are coming off back-to-back wins after beating the Golden State Warriors on Sunday and the Kings on Thursday. They are 10th in the West with a half-game lead over the Dallas Mavericks for the final play-in spot.
Here are three keys to Saturday’s game.
Sacramento’s lineup
Kings coach Doug Christie deployed his 17th different starting lineup of the season against the Blazers on Thursday. He started Russell Westbrook at point guard with DeMar DeRozan at shooting guard, Keegan Murray at small forward, Precious Achiuwa at power forward and Maxime Raynaud at center.
Christie could go with the same lineup in Saturday’s game with LaVine and Sabonis still sidelined due to injuries. Christie is looking for more opportunities to play Murray at small forward, saying the organization sees that as his “future” position after moving him to power forward last season.
Another focal point will be Malik Monk’s role off the bench. Monk, the runner-up for the Sixth Man of the Year award in 2023-24, did not play in Thursday’s game. Instead, Christie turned to Keon Ellis for backup minutes in a crowded backcourt. Christie said the move isn’t “permanent,” but he plans to give Ellis regular rotation minutes for a period of time going forward.
More Max
Raynaud will be starting at center for the foreseeable future after the Kings announced Friday that Domantas Sabonis will miss at least four to five more weeks with a partially torn meniscus in his left knee.
Raynaud, a rookie second-round draft pick, has started the last five games, averaging 15.4 points, 8.8 rebounds and 1.4 assists while shooting 53.4% from the field and 33.3% from 3-point range. He had a career-high 29 points and 11 rebounds in Thursday’s loss to the Blazers.
Slowing Sharpe and Avdija
The Kings had trouble with Deni Avdija and Shaedon Sharpe in Thursday’s loss to the Blazers.
Avdija had 35 points, five rebounds and five assists, going 12 of 19 from the field and 5 of 10 from 3-point range. He hit the game-winning free throws after drawing a controversial foul on Westbrook with 1.5 seconds remaining in overtime.
Sharpe scored 26 points while going 11 of 22 from the field and 4 of 6 from beyond the arc. Over the past four games, Sharpe has made 16 of 26 (.615) from long distance.
Blazers at Kings
When: 7 p.m.
Where: Golden 1 Center
TV: NBC Sports California
Radio: Sactown Sports 1140
Odds: Blazers -4.5
Over/under: 237.5
Injury report
Blazers: QUESTIONABLE — Jerami Grant (Achilles). OUT — Javonte Cooke (G League); Scoot Henderson (hamstring); Jrue Holiday (calf); Damian Lillard (Achilles); Matisse Thybulle (thumb); Blake Wesley (foot).
Kings: QUESTIONABLE — Doug McDermott (knee). OUT — Devin Carter (G League); Drew Eubanks (thumb); Zach LaVine (ankle); Daeqwon Plowden (G League); Domantas Sabonis (knee); Isaiah Stevens (G League).