As the Sacramento Kings head to Target Center for a Sunday night matchup with the Minnesota Timberwolves, both teams are dealing with some injury concerns-but their trajectories couldn’t be more different.
Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. ET, and while the Timberwolves are sitting comfortably at 16-9, the Kings are in a much tougher spot at 6-19, looking for any kind of spark to turn their season around.
Injury Watch
The Kings will be without Domantas Sabonis, sidelined with a knee injury, and they’ve got three more players listed as day-to-day: Drew Eubanks (thumb), Dennis Schroder (hip), and Zach LaVine (thumb). That’s a lot of production and experience either out or questionable, and for a team already struggling on both ends, it’s a significant blow.
Minnesota isn’t at full strength either. Mike Conley (Achilles), Bones Hyland (knee), and Anthony Edwards (foot) are all listed as day-to-day. Edwards, in particular, is a game-changer whose presence-or absence-could shift the dynamics of this matchup.
Timberwolves: Quietly Dangerous
Minnesota has been one of the more balanced teams in the league this season. They’re outscoring opponents by nearly five points per game, putting up 119.9 points per night (7th in the NBA), while allowing 115 (10th-best). That +124 scoring differential speaks to a team that knows how to close games and control tempo.
Julius Randle has been leading the way offensively, averaging 23 points per game, which puts him 21st in the league. He’s been a steadying force, but the Wolves’ real edge comes from their depth and efficiency.
Rudy Gobert continues to anchor the paint, pulling down 10.2 rebounds per game, which ranks seventh league-wide. His presence on the glass and in the paint has helped Minnesota maintain a rebounding edge-grabbing 43.4 boards per game while holding opponents to 42.8.
From deep, the Timberwolves are quietly one of the most efficient teams in the league. They’re hitting 14.2 threes per game at a 38.2% clip, good for fourth-best in the NBA. Donte DiVincenzo has been their most consistent shooter from range, knocking down three triples per night, ranking 11th in the league.
Kings: Searching for Answers
It’s been a rough season in Sacramento. The Kings are being outscored by 11.4 points per game, with a staggering -286 scoring differential. They’re averaging just 111.2 points per game, which ranks 28th in the league, and giving up 122.6, which puts them near the bottom defensively as well (26th).
Zach LaVine, despite his day-to-day status, has been the team’s top scorer with 20.6 points per game, placing him 32nd in the NBA. He’s also their top threat from beyond the arc, hitting 2.8 threes per game, which ranks 19th league-wide.
But the Kings’ biggest issue might be on the glass. They’re averaging just 40 rebounds per game, while allowing opponents to pull down 46.8-a gap of nearly seven boards per contest. That’s a tough margin to overcome night in and night out.
Russell Westbrook, now the team’s leading rebounder at 6.8 per game, has been doing a bit of everything: 20.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 9.5 assists over the last 20 games. It’s a vintage stat line, but it hasn’t been enough to lift Sacramento out of its early-season hole.
What to Watch
If the Timberwolves get even one of their key starters back-especially Edwards-they’ll have a serious advantage. Their offensive firepower and defensive discipline have been giving teams fits, and against a Kings squad that’s undermanned and struggling defensively, Minnesota could look to push the pace early and put this one away fast.
Sacramento, meanwhile, needs a near-perfect game. That means Westbrook controlling the tempo, LaVine finding his rhythm from deep, and someone stepping up on the glass to help slow down Gobert. It’s a tall order, especially on the road, but if the Kings want to show any signs of life this season, it starts with competing in games like this.
This one has all the makings of a test for Sacramento’s resilience-and a chance for Minnesota to keep building momentum in a Western Conference that’s as competitive as ever.