Sacramento Kings: A Night of Potential Redemption
Keegan Murray is set to make his return to the court for the Sacramento Kings as they face off against the Orlando Magic at the Golden 1 Center. This marks Murray's first appearance in nearly six weeks, adding a glimmer of hope to a team eager for a turnaround post-NBA All-Star break.
However, the Kings are on the brink of an unwanted milestone. They've tied the franchise record for the longest losing streak at 14 games, a record they share with the Cincinnati Royals' 1959-60 and 1971-72 squads. With their current record at 12-44, the Kings haven't celebrated a victory since January 16th.
In a bid to focus on their younger talent, the Kings announced that Zach LaVine and Domantas Sabonis will miss the remainder of the season due to surgeries on a finger and knee, respectively. This shift opens the door for Murray to take on a more prominent scoring role in the remaining 26 games, though he might start from the bench as Coach Doug Christie has been cautious with players returning from long absences.
The Orlando Magic, sitting seventh in the Eastern Conference, are just 1.5 games shy of an automatic playoff spot. They'll be without Franz Wagner, their second-leading scorer, due to an ankle injury.
Murray, who has been averaging 14.6 points, 6.1 rebounds, 1.6 blocks, and 1.2 steals over 19 games, was fully active in practice and is not listed on the injury report. His return could inject some much-needed energy into the Kings' lineup.
Game Details:
- When: 7 p.m.
- Where: Golden 1 Center
- TV: NBC Sports California
- Radio: Sactown Sports 1140
- Odds: Magic favored by 8.5
- Over/Under: 224.5
Injury Report:
- Magic: Colin Castleton, Alex Morales (G League); Franz Wagner (ankle) - OUT
- Kings: Dylan Cardwell (ankle); De’Andre Hunter (eye); Zach LaVine (finger); Domantas Sabonis (knee); Isaiah Stevens (G League) - OUT
As the Kings look to break their losing streak, all eyes will be on Murray to see if he can spark a change and lead the team towards a brighter finish to the season.