The Sacramento Kings head into Friday night still searching for their first win of the 2026-27 season, and the biggest question on their injury report is whether Malik Monk will be back in the lineup.
Monk, who sat out all five preseason games and Wednesday’s opener, has been upgraded to probable for Sacramento’s home matchup with the Portland Trail Blazers. That matters because the Kings’ offense looked stuck in place against the L.A.
Clippers, especially once the second unit came into the game. Without Monk, the Kings had trouble creating clean looks from long range and never found much rhythm.
Sacramento has already opened the year with six straight losses when you include its winless preseason, and the team will need a sharper offensive spark if it wants to avoid another setback. Monk’s potential return gives the Kings a better chance to solve some of those issues. The 2024-25 Sixth Man of the Year runner-up can attack defenses from multiple levels and has also shown real value as a passer.
There’s also a practical issue here: when Monk is out, the Kings don’t have a true backup point guard. Nique Clifford handled that role on opening night, but Monk’s presence would change the shape of the rotation and could quietly swing the game.
Sacramento will still be dealing with three players ruled out on Friday. Ben Simmons is out because of right Achilles tendon repair/surgery, and the team’s other absences are no surprise.
The Trail Blazers, meanwhile, enter with a much cleaner injury situation. Shaedon Sharpe is their only notable absence.
Portland has looked different this season after acquiring Ja Morant, and its opening-night starting five of Morant, Damian Lillard, Deni Avdija, Toumani Camara, and Donovan Clingan made a strong first impression in a win over the Phoenix Suns. That gives the Kings a tough assignment, even if the Blazers are not completely whole.
For Sacramento, the path is pretty straightforward: get Monk back if possible, get the offense moving, and protect home court. The Kings and Trail Blazers are scheduled to tip off in Sacramento at 7:00 p.m. PT on Friday.
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There is real intrigue here because the talent level is obvious enough to make Portland a fringe playoff contender in the eyes of sportsbooks, and some around the league believe a postseason push is a realistic target for 2026-27. Still, the Blazers are carrying the same question that follows every heavily remade roster: whether the chemistry comes together quickly enough, and whether the health of the key pieces holds long enough for all that depth and defensive potential to matter. [Read more 🡒]