Kings gameday live: Who should start with Richaun Holmes out vs. shorthanded Hornets?
Interim coach Alvin Gentry will have to decide who will replace Richaun Holmes in the starting lineup when the Kings open a three-game road trip against the Charlotte Hornets on Friday, but he shouldn’t expect much sympathy from Hornets coach James Borrego.
The Kings won’t have their starting center for at least two games, but the Hornets are missing three starters and two reserves with LaMelo Ball, Terry Rozier, Mason Plumlee, Ish Smith and Jalen McDaniels out due to NBA health and safety protocols. Gentry and Borrego will both be searching for matchup advantages when the Kings (11-14) face the Hornets (14-13) at Spectrum Center in Charlotte.
Holmes has been ruled out after suffering a laceration to his right eye in Wednesday’s 142-130 victory over the Orlando Magic. Gentry started Alex Len at center when Holmes missed three games due to illness and a previous eye injury in late November. Gentry started Tristan Thompson in the second half against Orlando after Holmes left the game in the second quarter.
Thompson offers more quickness, mobility and rebounding prowess at 6-foot-9 and 254 pounds. He provided a nice spark off the bench against the Magic, posting his first double-double of the season with 14 points and 10 rebounds in 21 minutes. Thompson is averaging 6.2 points and 5.7 rebounds in 14.2 minutes per game.
Len (7-0/250) gives Sacramento more size and shot blocking. He is averaging 6.0 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.0 blocks in 16.4 minutes per game.
Borrego was still able to piece together a pretty formidable starting lineup for two games against the Philadelphia 76ers earlier this week. He started Kelly Oubre (6-6/203) and Cody Martin (6-6/205) in the backcourt with Gordon Hayward (6-7/225), Miles Bridges (6-7/225) and Nick Richards (7-0/245) in the frontcourt.
Washington added to injury list
The Hornets announced forward P.J. Washington has been added to the team’s injury list for Friday’s game against the Kings. Washington is considered doubtful due to a non-COVID-19-related illness.
Len will start
During his pregame news conference, Gentry said he will start Len at center with Holmes out of the lineup. Gentry said he would prefer to have Holmes, but the team is fortunate to have some depth at the center spot with Len, Thompson and Damian Jones.
Gentry said he doesn’t have any new information on Holmes, who is expected to miss at least two games with the eye injury.
“We don’t really know,” Gentry said. “We’ll evaluate him after these two games and take a look and see where everything is and we’ll just make a decision based on that.”
HB for 3
Gentry was also asked about Harrison Barnes, who has attempted only 30 3-pointers over his last 10 games after going 29 of 67 (.433) over the first 10 games of the season.
“I think that when you start the year out as he did, shooting it efficiently as he was, the defense is obviously going to be a little bit closer and rotate a little harder to you, but I still think he’s leaving some out on the floor,” Gentry said.
Sacramento Kings at Charlotte Hornets
When: 4 p.m.
Where: Spectrum Center
TV: NBC Sports California
Radio: Sports 1140 KHTK
Odds: Kings -1.0
Over/under: 228
Injury report
Kings: OUT — Richaun Holmes (eye); Louis King (G League); Neemias Queta (G League); Jahmi’us Ramsey (G League); Robert Woodard II (G League).
Hornets: OUT — LaMelo Ball (health and safety protocols); Jalen McDaniels (health and safety protocols); Mason Plumlee (health and safety protocols); Terry Rozier (health and safety protocols); Ish Smith (health and safety protocols).
Note: Check back for updates with the latest news, notes, quotes and injury updates throughout the day leading up to tonight’s game between the Kings and Hornets.
This story was originally published December 10, 2021 at 4:00 AM.
