The Sacramento Kings head into Sunday night with a little momentum on the health front, even if the record still looks rough. After snapping their skid with a win last week, they’ve dropped their last two and sit at 1-8 through nine games, but they now get a Miami Heat team that has also stumbled out of the gate at 3-6.
The biggest question for Sacramento is whether Keegan Murray can make it back. Murray is listed as questionable with left ankle capsulitis after missing the last seven games, and his possible return would come at a time when the Kings badly need bodies and production. Backup center Dylan Cardwell already returned to action last Wednesday, giving Sacramento at least one small boost as the injury situation starts to ease.
Murray’s status matters because this season carries real weight for him. The 26-year-old is playing under his five-year, $140 million deal, and the Kings need more from him now that the contract has kicked in.
He has missed 66 of Sacramento’s 91 games since the start of the 2025-26 season, which has turned his availability into a serious concern. When he’s right, Murray gives the Kings exactly what they need on both ends - defense and three-point shooting.
Sacramento’s injury report is short otherwise: Ben Simmons is out with right Achilles tendon repair/surgery.
Miami, meanwhile, comes in clean. The Heat have no injuries to report, which gives them a clear edge if Murray can’t suit up. That makes the matchup even tougher for a Kings team already trying to dig itself out of an early hole.
The other subplot is Davion Mitchell’s return to Sacramento. The former Kings guard was drafted ninth overall in 2021, but now he’s thriving in Miami, putting up 16.1 points and 8.2 assists per game this season. This will be his third game back in Sacramento since being traded in the 2024 offseason, and if he plays well, the conversation around the Kings’ roster decisions will only get louder.
Even so, this is still a game Sacramento can circle. Miami has not looked like the powerhouse many expected, and the Kings have a chance to grab their first home win of the season and finally light the beam.
Tipoff is set for 6:00 p.m. PT in Sacramento.
In Other News...
Heat Trade Rumor Could Finally Answer Miamis Biggest Backcourt Problem
The Heat have been searching for a cleaner answer in the backcourt, and the latest trade chatter points to a familiar type of swing: a proven guard who can ease the burden on Miamis half-court offense. Darius Garland has surfaced in rumors tied to the Cavaliers and the Clippers, with the idea being that Los Angeles could be open to moving him amid draft pick penalties, which has naturally put Miami back in the mix as a team looking to upgrade its playmaking.
One possible framework would have the Heat send Andrew Wiggins, Nikola Jovic and a 2029 first-round pick to the Clippers for Garland, a deal that would be expensive but would address a need Miami has not fully solved. Whether the path runs through Cleveland, Los Angeles or somewhere else, the bigger takeaway is clear: the Heat are still hunting for a guard who can organize the offense and give them a more reliable presence with the ball. [Read more 🡒]
Heat Rough Start Just Sparked A Roster Debate With Real Cost
A rough opening to the 2026-27 season has already pushed the Heat into roster-think mode, and the latest name in the mix is Thanasis Antetokounmpo. Miami is 3-6, and the idea of adding the veteran forward is less about scoring punch than about bringing some stability and presence to a group trying to settle itself early.
Thanasis is currently playing in Greece and is under a three-year contract with Aris Basketball Club, so any move would require real maneuvering from Miami. The Heat would have to clear a roster spot by waiving a player, and because of his NBA experience, he would not be eligible for a two-way contract, which makes the decision more than just a feel-good footnote. [Read more 🡒]
Spoelstra Weighs In As Heat Face Early Giannis Era Pressure
The Heats uneven start has already put Erik Spoelstra in the familiar spot of having to explain the bigger picture while the noise around the team grows louder. Miami is 3-6, and after an 0-4 opening, it has at least steadied itself with a 3-2 stretch that suggests some progress, even if the early criticism from fans and media has not gone away.
Spoelstra also weighed in after Doc Rivers comments about the challenge of coaching Giannis Antetokounmpo, using the moment to reinforce that Miami is still in the middle of its own process. The Heat have shown flashes of improvement, but player performance and defense remain issues, which is why the conversation around this team still feels more like a work in progress than a finished product. [Read more 🡒]