The Sacramento Kings head into Friday night’s NBA Cup Group Play game against the Portland Trail Blazers still searching for answers, and the injury report gives them at least a little breathing room.
Sacramento has dropped four straight since picking up its first win of the season last week, and now sits at 1-10. The Kings would love to get another one on the board in the NBA Cup, but they’re facing a tough task against a Portland team that already beat them earlier this season by eight points.
That first meeting had its chances for Sacramento, but the result still went the Blazers’ way. Friday offers another shot at a different outcome, and the Kings enter it looking healthier than some feared when they brought in veteran center Mason Plumlee.
Sacramento’s full injury report lists Ben Simmons as OUT with a right Achilles tendon repair/surgery. Maxime Raynaud is still out, while Precious Achiuwa is banged up and in jeopardy of missing the game. Achiuwa has appeared in all 11 of the Kings’ games this season and has started nine straight, including starts over Keegan Murray since Murray returned from injury for the past two games.
If Achiuwa can’t go, Plumlee could be in line for his Kings debut, though Sacramento would likely prefer not to lean on the 36-year-old veteran right away.
Portland has injury issues of its own, with star guard Ja Morant out because of a hamstring injury. Morant was once a long-rumored Kings target before landing in Portland, so his absence still shapes the matchup, even if he won’t be on the floor Friday.
The Blazers’ earlier win over Sacramento was driven by Deni Avdija, who posted 26 points, seven rebounds and six assists. Damian Lillard and Toumani Camara added 19 points apiece in that road victory.
Portland comes in at 8-3, so this is no soft landing for the Kings. Still, with Darius Acuff Jr. playing incredible basketball, Domantas Sabonis healthy, and Sacramento desperate to stop the slide, the Kings have a chance to make things interesting.
Tipoff is set for 7:00 p.m. PT in Sacramento on Friday.
In Other News...
Blazers Trade Talk Around Scoot Just Got More Serious
Scoot Hendersons uneven start has only kept the conversation around Portlands backcourt moving, and now the speculation has widened into something more concrete. The idea floating around is a swap with Charlotte that would send Henderson one way and Naz Reid the other, a deal built around two players whose seasons have gone in very different directions so far.
For Portland, the appeal is easy to see: Hendersons talent is still part of the long-term picture, but the early returns have made every roster question feel bigger. Reids strong play has only sharpened the comparison, and while nothing official has been reported, the mere fact that this kind of trade is being discussed says plenty about where the Blazers are in sorting out their direction. [Read more 🡒]
Blazers Suddenly Have A Depth Problem Joe Cronin Can't Ignore
The early-season injury pileup has left Portland searching for answers on the wing, and general manager Joe Cronin is already looking for help. With Vit Krejci sidelined by an ankle fracture, the Trail Blazers already thin rotation on the perimeter has gotten even harder to manage, forcing the front office to confront a problem that was easy to see coming but now feels urgent.
The roster has been stretched by injuries across the board, with the absences of players such as Krejci, Ja Morant, Shaedon Sharpe and Chris Youngblood exposing just how little margin Portland has at the position. Trade possibilities are already being weighed, including options with the Los Angeles Clippers, but the bigger issue is straightforward: the Blazers need another wing, and they need one before the lack of depth starts dictating how they can play. [Read more 🡒]
Blazers Have One Chance To Silence Doubts In Sacramento
The early-season buzz around Portland has shifted quickly, and with an 8-3 start the Trail Blazers have gone from curiosity to a team people are starting to mention in the playoff conversation. Wins have helped change the tone around this group, and the mix of established talent and rising contributors has given the roster a more credible look than many expected this soon.
Damian Lillard and Jrue Holiday have provided the kind of backbone that keeps Portland steady, while younger pieces like Toumani Camara and Sidy Cissoko have added to the sense that this start is not just a hot streak. Still, the Blazers know perception in the NBA can turn fast, and the trip to Sacramento offers a chance to keep building that case against a familiar Western Conference test. [Read more 🡒]