Kings gameday live: Cavaliers have leading Rookie of the Year candidate in Evan Mobley
The Kings will get their first look at top Rookie of the Year candidate Evan Mobley when they visit the Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.
Mobley came out of USC as the No. 3 pick in the 2021 NBA draft. He is averaging 14.0 points, 8.2 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.0 blocks. NBA.com’s Rookie Ladder has Mobley leading the race for Rookie of the Year ahead of the Toronto Raptors’ Scottie Barnes and Detroit Pistons’ Cade Cunningham.
The Orlando Magic’s Franz Wagner and Oklahoma City Thunder’s Josh Giddey round out the top five. Kings rookie Davion Mitchell ranks seventh.
The Kings (11-15) and Cavaliers (15-12) will both be on the second night of a back-to-back after playing games in other cities Friday night. The Kings suffered a 124-123 loss to the Charlotte Hornets. The Cavaliers beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 123-106.
The Kings will be without starting center Richaun Holmes for the second night in a row. Holmes is recovering after suffering a laceration to his right eye in Wednesday’s 142-130 victory over the Orlando Magic.
Getting big?
Interim Kings coach Alvin Gentry hinted he might make a lineup change to combat the size of the Cavaliers, who start three near 7-footers in Lauri Markkanen (6-11), Evan Mobley (6-11) and Jarrett Allen (6-10).
“We’ve talked about that and that’s something we’re considering,” Gentry said in his pregame news conference. “Obviously, three guards against three 7-foot guys, something’s got to give, so we’ll see if that’s the way we want to go.”
Bagley starts
Marvin Bagley III will make his first start of the season against the Cavaliers.
Bagley has posted double-doubles in two of the last three games. Bagley has appeared in seven games under Gentry, averaging 10.1 points and 8.7 rebounds while making 27 of 44 (.614) field-goal attempts, 6 of 12 (.500) from 3-point range and 11 of 13 (.846) free throws.
Sacramento Kings at Cleveland Cavaliers
When: 5 p.m.
Where: Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse
TV: NBC Sports California
Radio: Sports 1140 KHTK
Odds: Cavaliers -6.5
Over/under: 223
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).
Cavaliers: OUT — Collin Sexton (knee); RJ Nembhard Jr. (G League); Dylan Windler (G League).
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 Cavaliers.
This story was originally published December 11, 2021 at 4:00 AM.
