Keegan Murray will be sidelined due to injury when the Kings conclude a four-game homestand against the Dallas Mavericks in a matinee affair Saturday at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento.
An MRI revealed that Murray suffered a mild right calf strain in Tuesday’s loss to the Detroit Pistons. He will likely miss a minimum of four to five games before he is reevaluated in one week.
Mavericks star Anthony Davis is also dealing with a new injury. The Mavericks are listing Davis as questionable for Saturday’s game due to right adductor soreness after he experienced groin spasms during a Christmas Day loss to the Golden State Warriors. Davis will be reevaluated daily, but sources told ESPN’s Shams Charania he is expected to miss a few games.
The Kings (7-23) are coming off a 136-127 loss to the Pistons. They have the worst record in the Western Conference and the third-worst record in the NBA after losing six of seven and 10 of their last 12.
The Mavericks (12-20) have lost three of four after suffering a 126-116 loss to the Warriors on Thursday.
Here are three keys to Saturday’s game.
Keegan Murray’s absence
Kings coach Doug Christie will have to come up with another new lineup with Murray joining Zach LaVine (ankle) and Domantas Sabonis (knee) on the injured list.
Christie recently has been starting Russell Westbrook and DeMar DeRozan in the backcourt with Murray at small forward, Precious Achiuwa and rookie Maxime Raynaud at center. With the organization leaning into a youth movement, Christie will probably consider starting rookie first-round draft pick Nique Clifford until LaVine is ready to return.
Status of Anthony Davis
The Mavericks aren’t the same team when Davis is out of the lineup. They are 8-8 when he plays and 4-12 when he doesn’t.
Davis is averaging 20.5 points, 10.9 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.6 blocks and 1.3 steals. When healthy, he has led the Mavericks to wins over the Denver Nuggets (2), Houston Rockets and Pistons.
Flagg flying high
Sacramento will get its first look at Cooper Flagg, who is leading the Rookie of the Year race after coming out of Duke as the No. 1 pick in June’s NBA draft. The 6-foot-9 forward is averaging 19.4 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.2 steals.
Mavericks at Kings
When: 2 p.m.
Where: Golden 1 Center
TV: NBC Sports California, NBA TV
Radio: Sactown Sports 1140
Odds: Mavericks -2.5
Over/under: 228.5
Injury report
Mavericks: QUESTIONABLE — Moussa Cisse (G League); Anthony Davis (adductor). DOUBTFUL — Miles Kelly (G League); Brandon Williams (calf). OUT — Dante Exum (knee); Kyrie Irving (knee); Dereck Lively II (foot).
Kings: QUESTIONABLE — Devin Carter (ankle). OUT — Drew Eubanks (thumb); Zach LaVine (ankle); Keegan Murray (calf); Daeqwon Plowden (G League); Domantas Sabonis (knee); Isaiah Stevens (G League).