Kings on the Brink of Franchise Futility as Injuries Mount Ahead of Jazz Matchup
SALT LAKE CITY - The Sacramento Kings are staring down a piece of unfortunate franchise history as they head into Wednesday night’s matchup against the Utah Jazz. With 13 straight losses in the books, Sacramento is just one defeat away from tying the longest losing streak in franchise history - a mark set by the Cincinnati Royals back in 1960 and matched again in 1972.
That’s 66 years of basketball history on the line, and not in the way any team wants.
The Kings haven’t won since January 16, and at 12-43, they currently hold the worst record in the NBA. Their most recent outing - a 120-94 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans - was another reminder of just how depleted and disjointed this roster has become. The team is limping into the All-Star break, both literally and figuratively.
And the injury report? It reads more like a starting lineup than a list of absences.
Six Key Players Out
Sacramento will once again be without a staggering six players due to a mix of injuries and illness. Domantas Sabonis, who had already missed three games with lower back soreness, is now sidelined due to left knee injury management.
Zach LaVine is nursing a tendon injury in his pinky, keeping him out for a third straight game. De’Andre Hunter (eye), Malik Monk (illness), Keegan Murray (ankle), and Russell Westbrook (ankle) are also unavailable.
That’s a massive chunk of Sacramento’s core - gone. Without Sabonis’ interior presence, LaVine’s shot creation, Monk’s energy off the bench, and Westbrook’s veteran leadership, the Kings are left scrambling to piece together rotations.
Jazz Also Banged Up - But in Better Shape
Utah, meanwhile, hasn’t exactly been lighting the league on fire either. The Jazz had dropped eight of their last nine before pulling out a gritty 115-111 win over the Miami Heat on Monday. That victory featured a strong debut from Jaren Jackson Jr., who was recently acquired from Memphis and chipped in 22 points.
The Jazz will be without Keyonte George (ankle) and Walker Kessler (shoulder), but they’re still in significantly better shape than the visiting Kings.
What’s at Stake
Beyond just trying to avoid tying a painful franchise record, Sacramento is desperately searching for any kind of momentum heading into the All-Star break. This game against the Jazz - a team also in transition and dealing with its own injury issues - might be their best shot at snapping the skid before the league hits pause.
But with so many key pieces unavailable, the Kings will need a near-perfect performance from their remaining rotation players - and maybe a little luck - to avoid going into the break on a 14-game losing streak.
Game Info
- Tipoff: 6 p.m. PT
- Location: Delta Center, Salt Lake City
- TV: NBC Sports California
- Radio: Sactown Sports 1140
- Odds: Jazz favored by 5.5
- Over/Under: 230.5
Injury Report
- Kings - OUT: De’Andre Hunter (eye), Zach LaVine (finger), Malik Monk (illness), Keegan Murray (ankle), Domantas Sabonis (knee), Russell Westbrook (ankle)
- Jazz - OUT: Keyonte George (ankle), Walker Kessler (shoulder)
If Sacramento can somehow gut out a win, it’ll be a testament to their resilience in the face of adversity. If not, they’ll tie a record that no team wants to see in the books - and head into the break with plenty of soul-searching ahead.