The Sacramento Kings and Dallas Mavericks are set to face off at the American Airlines Center, but it seems like the injury report could form a team of its own. The Kings will be without several key players, including Russell Westbrook, Zach LaVine, Keegan Murray, De’Andre Hunter, Domantas Sabonis, and Dylan Cardwell. Malik Monk's participation is still up in the air.
On the Mavericks' side, they're missing rookie standout Cooper Flagg, along with Kyrie Irving, Dereck Lively II, and P.J. Washington. Khris Middleton is likely to play, but Daniel Gafford remains doubtful.
The Kings are currently struggling with the worst record in the NBA at 13-47. They recently broke a 16-game losing streak with a win over the Memphis Grizzlies, only to fall to the Houston Rockets 128-97 on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the Mavericks, sitting 12th in the Western Conference with a 21-36 record, have momentum from consecutive wins against the Indiana Pacers and Brooklyn Nets. However, they still trail the Los Angeles Clippers by six games for the final play-in spot.
Keegan Murray, who re-injured his left ankle against the Rockets, is sidelined again after just returning from a 20-game absence. LaVine, Sabonis, and Hunter are all out for the season following surgeries, while Westbrook is dealing with a right thigh contusion. Monk's availability is uncertain due to right ankle soreness.
The Mavericks have their own challenges. Flagg, a top contender for Rookie of the Year, is averaging 20.4 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 4.1 assists but is out with a left midfoot sprain. Irving and Lively are recovering from surgeries, and Washington is nursing an ankle sprain.
Tip-off is at 5:30 p.m. on NBC Sports California and Sactown Sports 1140, with the Mavericks favored by 8.5 points and an over/under set at 235.5. Both teams will need to dig deep into their rosters to compensate for the missing talent, setting the stage for an intriguing matchup.