Kings gameday live: How Hield is assisting Pacers; Fox, Haliburton injuries; lottery race
The Kings might see some changes in Buddy Hield’s game when they visit the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, but they might not see Tyrese Haliburton at all.
This matchup has been anticipated for weeks since the Kings traded Haliburton, Hield and Tristan Thompson to the Pacers in exchange for Domantas Sabonis, Justin Holiday and Jeremy Lamb. Fans looked forward to seeing Sabonis, Haliburton and Hield play against their former teams, but Sabonis is out due to injury and Haliburton’s status is in question.
Haliburton was one of 11 players listed on the injury reports the Kings and Pacers submitted Tuesday with both teams seemingly shifting their attention to the NBA draft lottery.
The Pacers (25-47) are listing Haliburton (back), Chris Duarte (toe) and Isaiah Jackson (concussion) as questionable. T.J. McConnell (wrist), Ricky Rubio (knee), Myles Turner (foot) and T.J. Warren (foot) are out.
The Kings (25-48) are listing De’Aaron Fox as doubtful after he missed the past two games due to right hand soreness. Sabonis is out after suffering a bone bruise in his left knee in Sunday’s loss to the Phoenix Suns. Terence Davis (wrist) and Richaun Holmes (personal) are out as well.
Hield’s passing grade
All of this could be setting the stage for a big game from Hield, who spent nearly six seasons in Sacramento before being traded to Indiana in February. Hield has averaged 18.4 points, 5.3 rebounds and 5.0 assists in 16 games with the Pacers. He is shooting just 32.8% from 3-point range – well below his career mark of 39.7% – but he is flourishing in other aspects of his game under Pacers coach Rick Carlisle.
Hield’s transformation has been so surprising FiveThirtyEight.com published a story Tuesday titled: “Can A One-Dimensional Player Change His Game With A New Team? Ask Buddy Hield.”
The story noted that Hield is averaging 5.0 assists with an increased role as a pick-and-roll, drive-and-kick ballhandler after averaging only 1.9 assists in 55 games for the Kings this season.
“That’s a monstrous jump, as shown by his assist rate moving from average for a wing to the 94th percentile,” FiveThirtyEight’s Louis Zatman wrote. “… Unlocking Hield’s newfound passing game is his newfound driving game. In Sacramento this season, he averaged 6.687 drives per 100 possessions, scoring a lowly 0.797 points per chance, per Second Spectrum. That frequency has improved to 13.109 drives per 100 possessions in Indiana at a sparkling 1.140 points per chance. At his number of drives (156) or higher, that’s the sixth-highest efficiency in the league since the trade deadline.”
Lottery race
The Kings and Pacers are only a half-game apart in the NBA standings with significant draft lottery implications.
The Kings currently have the fifth-worst record in the league, which would give them a 42.1% chance of landing a top-four pick in the draft and a 10.5% chance of being awarded the No. 1 pick. The Pacers have the sixth-worst record with a 37.2% chance of landing in the top four and a 9.0% chance at the No. 1 pick.
The team that loses this game will have the inside track on the fifth position in the May 17 lottery. The Pacers have already been eliminated from playoff contention in the Eastern Conference. The Kings are 5 ½ games behind the New Orleans Pelicans for the final play-in spot in the Western Conference with only nine games remaining.
Queta time?
With Sabonis and Holmes out, rookie center Neemias Queta could get an opportunity over the last three weeks of the season.
Queta, a two-way player who has split time between Sacramento and the G-League Stockton Kings this season, accompanied the team to Indianapolis and will be available for Wednesday’s game against the Pacers.
Queta, the first player from Portugal to reach the NBA, came out of Utah State as the 39th pick in the 2021 NBA draft. He has appeared in 10 games for the Kings this season, averaging 2.1 points and 1.9 rebounds in 5.6 minutes per game. He has averaged 17.3 points, 8.0 rebounds and 1.6 blocks in 17 games for Stockton.
Brogdon ruled out
The Pacers have added guard Malcolm Brogdon to their injury report for Wednesday’s game against the Kings. Brogdon will be held out due to rest. Brogdon is averaging 19.1 points, 5.1 rebounds and 5.9 assists.
Note: Check back throughout the day for updates on tonight’s game between the Kings and Pacers.
Sacramento Kings at Indiana Pacers
When: 4 p.m.
Where: Gainbridge Fieldhouse
TV: NBC Sports California
Radio: Sports 1140 KHTK
Odds: Pacers -5.5
Over/under: 236
Injury report
Kings: DOUBTFUL — De’Aaron Fox (hand). OUT — Terence Davis (wrist); Richaun Holmes (personal); Domantas Sabonis (knee).
Pacers: QUESTIONABLE — Tyrese Haliburton (back); Chris Duarte (toe); Isaiah Jackson (concussion). OUT — Malcolm Brogdon (rest); T.J. McConnell (wrist); Ricky Rubio (knee); Myles Turner (foot); T.J. Warren (foot).
This story was originally published March 23, 2022 at 4:00 AM.
