The Sacramento Kings are still searching for their first win of the 2026-27 season, and Sunday’s home game against the Memphis Grizzlies comes with some real injury intrigue on both sides.
Sacramento opened 0-2 with losses to the L.A. Clippers and Portland Trail Blazers, including a game against Portland where the Kings had a chance to finally get in the win column but came up short. Now they get another opportunity in a matchup that looks manageable on paper, even if Memphis arrives with more momentum than most expected.
The Grizzlies have opened 2-0, taking down the Utah Jazz and Golden State Warriors, and they’ll be aiming to keep that early run going in Sacramento. But both teams are bringing some key injury questions into the game.
For the Kings, Keegan Murray is the name to watch. He is listed as questionable with left ankle capsulitis after tweaking his ankle in the last game.
Ben Simmons has already been ruled out with a right Achilles tendon repair/surgery. There is nothing new from Cardwell, Raynaud, or Simmons, as all three remain sidelined, but Murray is the latest addition to the report.
Murray’s status matters a lot for Sacramento. He played only 23 games last season, and with his five-year, $140 million contract now active, the Kings need him available and producing.
Through two games this season, he has scored 14 points and grabbed 6 rebounds while shooting 5-17 from the field and 0-7 from three. Sacramento needs him to find a rhythm fast.
Hearing Keegan Murray’s disappearance during Friday night’s game was not a trip to the locker room - he was on a bike in the tunnel. Also hearing he is experiencing some stiffness in the ankle that he had surgery on in May and there is a chance he’ll be listed as questionable for…
If Murray can’t go, Sacramento could turn to Precious Achiuwa, Daeqwon Plowden, or Jonathan Mogbo in the starting lineup.
Memphis has its own absence to manage. The Grizzlies have ruled out starting center Zach Edey, which could open the door for a big night from Domantas Sabonis. Their injury report also includes another key player as questionable.
Even so, Memphis still brings plenty of firepower. Ty Jerome has been on a heater to start the year, leading the NBA with 36.5 points per game, and rookie Cameron Boozer has also made a strong early impact.
It’s a more favorable setup for the Kings with Edey sidelined, but this is still not the kind of game Sacramento can simply assume it will win. Tipoff is set for 6:00 p.m. PT in Sacramento.
In Other News...
Ty Jerome Is Giving The Grizzlies More Than Anyone Expected
The Grizzlies are only a couple games into the 2026-27 season, but Ty Jerome has already shown why Memphis views him as more than a short-term piece. Early returns have been loud enough to stand out even in a league where new faces often need time to settle in, and Jerome has given the Grizzlies a scoring jolt that few around the team likely expected this quickly.
His start has come at a time when other players moving to new homes are also making an immediate mark, from Tyler Herro helping drive the Bucks offense to Walker Kessler settling in well with the Lakers. For Memphis, though, Jeromes early production raises an even more interesting question: how much more can this backcourt spark once the season fully starts to take shape? [Read more 🡒]
Grizzlies Second-Round Pick Faces A Tough Wait To Start His Career
Richie Saunders path into the Grizzlies organization is already taking an indirect route. The No. 32 pick in the 2026 NBA draft is listed on the Memphis Hustle training camp roster, a strong sign he is beginning on a G League deal while he continues working back from the ACL injury he suffered in February. For a second-round pick, it is not the cleanest arrival into the league, but it does give Memphis a place to monitor his recovery and development up close.
Zach Kleiman has made clear the Grizzlies are approaching Saunders situation with patience, and roster math is part of the reason. Memphis currently has a full slate of standard contracts and all three two-way spots spoken for, so the front office is taking a wait-and-see approach on what comes next for the rookie. If Saunders gets healthy and performs, the door to a standard NBA deal can still open later, but for now his first NBA chapter is set to begin with an uncertain timeline. [Read more 🡒]
Ty Jerome's Scoring Explosion Leaves Grizzlies With One Big Question
Ty Jerome has wasted no time making himself one of the most surprising early stories on Memphis roster. Through two games, the 29-year-old guard has been scoring at a blistering clip, carrying over the efficient shot-making and heavy offensive responsibility he showed in a brief but productive stretch last season, when he turned 15 games into a strong scoring run for the Grizzlies.
The bigger question is whether this start can hold once the season settles in and the competition tightens. Memphis has reason to enjoy the burst Jerome is giving them, but the early production also comes with a reminder that this kind of workload is hard to maintain over six months, especially if the teams context forces him into a different role as the schedule and defensive attention pick up. [Read more 🡒]