Kings gameday Live: Looking at Donte DiVincenzo’s future; long injury list vs. Rockets
Interim Kings coach Alvin Gentry said there are certain players the organization wants to evaluate in the final weeks of the season. Donte DiVincenzo will be high on that list.
DiVincenzo came to Sacramento at the February trade deadline. He will play no more than 25 games for the Kings before they have to make a decision about re-signing him this summer.
Gentry acknowledged his rotation could change when the Kings are mathematically eliminated from playoff contention, but one thing remains the same as they prepare to face the Houston Rockets on Wednesday at Toyota Center.
“We still want to be competitive,” Gentry said. “We still want to win games. Obviously, we’d like to take a look at a few guys, but we also have other guys that we definitely have to take a look at, too, so we try to play as many guys as we can, but obviously we’d like to have Donte and guys like that get some extended minutes because we need to learn as much about them as we possibly can.”
DiVincenzo will continue to log heavy minutes for the Kings (27-49) by the looks of their latest injury report. Terence Davis (wrist), De’Aaron Fox (hand), Richaun Holmes (personal) and Domantas Sabonis (knee) are still out. Josh Jackson (non-COVID illness), Jeremy Lamb (hamstring) and Alex Len (non-COVID illness) are questionable.
The Rockets (20-56) are listing rookie Alperen Sengun (leg) as questionable. Eric Gordon (groin), Dennis Schroder (shoulder) and Christian Wood (hamstring) have been ruled out.
The Kings acquired DiVincenzo from the Milwaukee Bucks in the four-team trade that sent Marvin Bagley III to the Detroit Pistons. The 25-year-old guard has played 19 games for the Kings, averaging 9.7 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3.5 assists in 26.3 minutes per game. He also seems to be rediscovering the range that helped make him a key cog as a starter on Milwaukee’s 2020-21 NBA championship team.
DiVincenzo shot just 28.4% from 3-point range in 17 games for the Bucks this season after returning from offseason ankle surgery. He’s been much better with the Kings, shooting 36.1% on 5.7 attempts per game. He is shooting 38.2% in March, better than his career high of 37.9% in 2020-21.
The Kings can make DiVincenzo a restricted free agent with a $6.6 million qualifying offer when free agency begins in August. That would give them the right to match any offer he receives from another team.
DiVincenzo knows decisions will have to be made this summer, but he said he isn’t thinking about free agency at this point.
“I don’t go into any game thinking about my contract,” DiVincenzo said. “I go into every game trying to be the hardest-playing player and the best teammate I can be. Wherever the chips fall at the end of the year, that’s where they fall, but when I go into the game, I’m not thinking about my contract. I’m not thinking about the situation. I’m just trying to either win that game, or, like I said, as long as I’m a good teammate and I play with the most energy I possibly can, good things will happen for me.”
Status updates
Gentry said before the game that Len and Jackson had been cleared to play, and Lamb’s status would be a game-time decision. A short time later, the team announced Lamb would be available as well.
Sengun was ruled out for the Rockets.
Note: Check back throughout the day for updates on tonight’s game between the Kings and Rockets.
Sacramento Kings at Houston Rockets
When: 5 p.m.
Where: Toyota Center
TV: NBC Sports California
Radio: Sports 1140 KHTK
Odds: Kings -2.5
Over/under: 233
Injury report
Kings: QUESTIONABLE — Josh Jackson (non-COVID illness); Jeremy Lamb (hamstring); Alex Len (non-COVID illness). OUT — Terence Davis (wrist); De’Aaron Fox (hand); Richaun Holmes (personal); Domantas Sabonis (knee).
Rockets: QUESTIONABLE — Alperen Sengun (leg). OUT — Eric Gordon (groin); Dennis Schroder (shoulder); Christian Wood (hamstring).
This story was originally published March 30, 2022 at 4:00 AM.
