Injury-Riddled Kings Face Uphill Battle vs. Trail Blazers Amid Mounting Losses
The Sacramento Kings are limping into Moda Center on Thursday night, and not just metaphorically. With Zach LaVine and Domantas Sabonis both sidelined, Sacramento’s already thin roster is being pushed to the brink as they prepare to face the Portland Trail Blazers in the first of a two-game mini-series.
At 6-20 on the season and losers of three straight, the Kings are in a freefall. They’ve dropped seven of their last eight and are just 3-12 away from home.
The betting lines reflect the uphill climb ahead: Sacramento enters as nine-point underdogs, with the over/under set at 237.5 for the 10:00 p.m. ET tip.
LaVine Out, Sabonis Still Sidelined
The biggest blow for Sacramento is the absence of Zach LaVine, who suffered a moderate left ankle sprain in Sunday’s 117-103 loss to the Timberwolves. He’s expected to miss at least a week, which leaves the Kings without their top scorer and primary perimeter threat.
That absence stings even more when paired with the continued loss of Domantas Sabonis, who’s been out since mid-November with a partial tear in his left knee. Sabonis was averaging 17.2 points and 12.3 rebounds before the injury, and his ability to stretch the floor and facilitate from the high post has been sorely missed.
Without those two, Sacramento’s offensive identity is in flux. The Kings are already near the bottom of the league in scoring (28th at 110.6 points per game) and rank dead last in made threes per contest (10.8). Losing LaVine only tightens the squeeze on a team that’s struggling to find rhythm or spacing.
Recent Struggles Paint a Tough Picture
Even when the Kings manage to put points on the board, it hasn’t translated to wins. During their current skid, they’ve lost by 14, 31, and 11 points to the Timberwolves, Nuggets, and Pacers, respectively - all while scoring over 100 in each game. The issue isn’t just offensive inefficiency; it’s a lack of defensive stops and a roster that’s simply not built to withstand this level of attrition.
And the betting numbers tell a similar story. Sacramento is just 8-18 against the spread this season, and their recent form doesn’t inspire confidence heading into a back-to-back set with Portland.
Blazers Leaning on Avdija and Clingan
Portland, meanwhile, isn’t exactly lighting the league on fire, but they’ve shown more stability than their Thursday night opponents. The Blazers are 10-16 overall and 4-6 at home, but they did snap a three-game losing streak with a win over Golden State on Sunday.
Deni Avdija has emerged as a key piece, averaging 25.5 points per game, while rookie big man Donovan Clingan is making his presence felt with 9.7 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game on 48% shooting. He’s giving Portland a strong interior presence, and his rebounding could be a major factor against a depleted Kings frontcourt.
Veteran guard Dennis Schroder is questionable with a right ankle sprain, which could shift more responsibility to Russell Westbrook, who’s posting a well-rounded 13.8 points, 6.8 boards, and 7.3 assists per game. DeMar DeRozan, currently Sacramento’s second-leading scorer at 17.7 points per game, will need to shoulder even more of the load with LaVine out.
Portland will be without Jrue Holiday (calf), but they’ve shown more cohesion and depth than Sacramento in recent weeks. At 14-12 against the spread this season, the Blazers have been more reliable for bettors than the Kings, who continue to slide both in the standings and at the sportsbook.
What’s Next for Sacramento?
With two of their top stars out and the team sitting alone at the bottom of the Western Conference, Sacramento’s season is teetering. And while there’s still time before the trade deadline, it’s hard to ignore the growing sense that the front office may pivot toward a rebuild sooner rather than later.
LaVine, Sabonis, Malik Monk, and DeRozan all carry value on the trade market, and if the Kings continue to struggle, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Sacramento start reshaping its roster for the future.
For now, though, the focus is on surviving the next stretch - and that starts with trying to compete in Portland on Thursday night. With injuries piling up and wins hard to come by, the Kings are in desperate need of a spark. Whether it comes from within or from a future roster shakeup remains to be seen.