Kings gameday live: Nuggets game could be beginning of end as record playoff drought looms
The Kings haven’t been mathematically eliminated from playoff contention, but Wednesday’s game against the Denver Nuggets at Golden 1 Center might mark the beginning of the end.
The next six games could seal Sacramento’s fate as the Kings close in on an NBA-record 16-year playoff drought. After playing host to the Nuggets, the Kings will visit the Utah Jazz on Saturday before coming home to face the Chicago Bulls, Milwaukee Bucks, Boston Celtics and Phoenix Suns.
The Kings have very little margin for error going into their game against the Nuggets. They are 4 ½ games behind the New Orleans Pelicans for the final play-in spot in the Western Conference with 15 games remaining.
The Kings (24-43) are coming off back-to-back losses to the Dallas Mavericks and New York Knicks. Maurice Harkless (right ankle sprain) and Jeremy Lamb (left hip soreness) are listed as questionable. Terence Davis (wrist surgery) and Richaun Holmes (personal reasons) are out.
The Nuggets (39-26) have won three in a row and nine of 10, including a 115-110 victory over the Kings on Feb. 26 in Denver. The Nuggets are sixth in the West, one game behind the Mavericks and 1 ½ games behind the Jazz for the No. 4 seed.
The Nuggets are listing Zeke Nnaji (knee soreness) as probable for Wednesday’s game in Sacramento. Will Barton (left ankle sprain) and Bones Hyland (right knee soreness) are questionable. Jamal Murray (knee surgery) are Michael Porter Jr. (back surgery) are still out, but both could return in time for the playoffs.
Sabonis suspended
The NBA announced Kings center Domantas Sabonis has been suspended one game following his confrontation with official Josh Tiven in Monday’s loss to the New York Knicks. Sabonis will serve the suspension when the Kings face the Nuggets on Wednesday.
Sabonis argued vehemently after being whistled for a foul on Immanuel Quickley with 4:35 remaining in Monday’s 131-115 loss to the Knicks. The league issued a statement describing the sequence of events that led to Sabonis’ ejection, the first of his career.
“The incident began with Sabonis receiving a technical foul for an unsportsmanlike reaction to a called foul,” the league said. “Sabonis then reacted demonstratively again in the vicinity of the game official, and approached and bumped the official in a hostile manner, resulting in a second technical foul and an ejection.”
The Kings issued a statement of their own after the suspension was announced, saying they disagree with the league’s ruling.
“We disagree with the NBA’s decision to suspend Domantas Sabonis,” the team said. “He is a consummate professional and the ultimate competitor. We stand behind Domas, and he has our full support.”
Note: Check back throughout the day for updates on tonight’s game between the Kings and Nuggets.
Denver Nuggets at Sacramento Kings
When: 7 p.m.
Where: Golden 1 Center
TV: NBC Sports California
Radio: Sports 1140 KHTK
Odds: Nuggets -4.5
Over/under: 237
Injury report
Nuggets: PROBABLE — Zeke Nnaji (knee). QUESTIONABLE — Will Barton (ankle); Bones Hyland (knee). OUT — Vlatko Cancar (foot); Jamal Murray (knee); Michael Porter Jr. (back).
Kings: QUESTIONABLE — Maurice Harkless (ankle); Jeremy Lamb (hip). OUT — Terence Davis (wrist); Richaun Holmes (personal reasons).
This story was originally published March 9, 2022 at 5:00 AM.
