Injuries continue to hinder the Sacramento Kings 2025-26 season, as their starting forward Keegan Murray has gone down with a mild right calf strain.
Murray exited their Tuesday night loss to the Pistons at halftime and did not return.
The Kings announced on Friday, December 26th that the starting forward will be re-evaluated in one week. That will cause him to miss a minimum of four games scheduled against the Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers, and Boston Celtics.
Keep in mind that re-evaluation is a somewhat loose term that does not guarantee he will return by that date.
Keegan Murray out at least a week. pic.twitter.com/S7cFiRQjbG
— Matt George (@MattGeorgeSAC) December 27, 2025
After missing the first 15 games of the season with a torn UCL in his left thumb, Murray had averaged 14.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 1.5 assists on 43.8 percent from the field and a mere 26.3 percent from three on 5.1 attempts per game.
Starting in all but one game since returning to action, replacing Murray’s defensive versatility will be a tall task for Kings head coach Doug Christie.
“It makes you a better coach,” Christie said of the injury before Saturday’s matchup with the visiting Mavericks. “It makes us better as a team. People will be an opportunity to step in and figure things out. We’ve got young players that need to develop. So as much as it hurts me to see number 13 sitting on the sideline, there are parts of it that help us.”
”Hopefully [he’ll] be back very soon. Like tonight would be nice,” he joked.
KCRA3’s Sean Cunningham reported that guard Keon Ellis will start in place of Murray. Obviously losing notable size with that move, they may end up being more reliant on three or sometimes four guard lineups that could feature players like DeMar DeRozan and/or Russell Westbrook at the forward positions.
Christie also said recently that two-big lineups featuring both rookies Maxime Raynaud and Dylan Cardwell could be more commonplace moving forward. Added responsibility for Precious Achiuwa is likely as well.
While it certainly harms their immediate chances of stacking some wins, already sitting at 7-23 this season, bottom of the Western Conference, it plays in favor of their new tone of focus on developing some of their younger talents.
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Coming off one of their best wins of the season, the Sacramento Kings laid an egg against the Detroit Pistons, suffering a 136-127 loss.
It’s the ninth occasion where they’ve allowed 130 or more points.
To put it simply, the Pistons proved why they’re first in the Eastern Conference, and Sacramento displayed why they’re at the bottom of the West. Trailing by 13 at the end of one, the Kings were never able to recover.
DeMar DeRozan had a stellar offensive showing, recording 23 of his 37 points in the first half, but it was their defense that disappointed.
Cade Cunningham (23) and Jalen Duren (23), whose pick-and-roll is the second most common play in the NBA, tore them apart as Detroit shot 53.7 percent from the field and 43.8 percent from deep. Harris also added 24 points.
The Kings head into Christmas with a sour feeling after falling to a lowly 7-23 record this season.
Read More:
DeRozan tallies 37; Kings defense leads to another loss
Upcoming Sacramento Kings schedule for the 2025-26 season
Saturday, December 27th – vs. Dallas Mavericks – 2:00 PM PT
Sunday, December 28th – @ Los Angeles Lakers – 6:30 PM PT
Tuesday, December 30th – @ Los Angeles Clippers – 8:00 PM PT
Thursday, January 1st – vs. Boston Celtics – 7:00 PM PT
Friday, January 2nd @ Phoenix Suns – 6:00 PM PT
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