After two days of practice, Chuck Hayes is ready to play.
Hayes said he'd like to play tonight in Utah after experiencing no pain in his left shoulder, which he dislocated Jan. 5.
Kings head coach Keith Smart said Hayes would return if he gets the approval of the team medical staff.
"Once the doctors tell me – and our trainer tells me – he's cleared to go, then I'll work him into the lineup," Smart said.
Hayes has missed the past 11 games after suffering the injury when he collided with Milwaukee's Drew Gooden.
He said his shoulder has been "pulled a little bit, bumped into a little bit" in practice with no problems.
The toughest thing for Hayes is playing with a shoulder brace, which provides support but restricts his range of motion.
"It's like a straitjacket," he explained. "It's squeezing me all around my chest, rib cage and shoulder. It's more about the brace. I've got to get over that and just play."
Hayes began practicing with the team last week. Before that, he was limited to conditioning and exercises to strengthen his shoulder.
Hayes said he doesn't expect to return in game shape after so much time off.
"I feel fine, but conditioning on the treadmill and conditioning in practice is totally different from conditioning in a game," he said. "I'm pretty sure I'm going to get winded early. That happens. Just hope that second wind comes quick."
Double up – Kings center DeMarcus Cousins entered Friday with 13 double doubles, tied for second in the NBA with Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard.
Minnesota Timberwolves forward Kevin Love has 17 to lead the league.
Cousins, who had 26 double doubles in 81 games as a rookie last season, has five consecutive double doubles and is averaging 15.3 points and 11.8 rebounds in his past 12 games.
Only three other Kings have recorded double doubles this season – J.J. Hickson has two, while Tyreke Evans and Jason Thompson have one each.
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