Kings gameday live: Lottery position hurt by failed play-in push; home finale vs. Pelicans
A 4-1 road trip gave the Kings a glimmer of hope and space for rookie Davion Mitchell to grow his game, but a failed play-in push did nothing to help their chances of acquiring a top pick in the 2022 NBA draft.
The Kings find themselves back in no-man’s land going into their home finale against the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday at Golden 1 Center. They’ve been eliminated from playoff contention for the 16th year in a row — the longest drought in NBA history — and they have little hope of improving their draft lottery position.
Two weeks ago, it looked like the Kings might finish fifth in the draft lottery, which would have given them a 42.1% chance of a top-four pick and a 10.5% chance of landing the No. 1 pick. Instead, it appears they will finish with the seventh-worst record in the league, leaving them with a 32% chance of a top-four pick and a 7.5% chance of vaulting to No. 1.
Looking closer at the odds for the seventh position in the lottery, the Kings would have a 19.7% of holding at No. 7; a 34.1% chance of dropping to No. 8; a 12.9% chance of falling to No. 9; and a 1.3% chance of sliding to No. 10.
This is familiar territory for a franchise that drafted in the top four only twice since 2007 despite being in the lottery every year. Never good enough to reach the playoffs. Rarely bad enough to be awarded one of the top picks in the draft.
The Kings (29-50) were eliminated from playoff contention with a 109-90 loss to the Golden State Warriors on Sunday. De’Aaron Fox (hand), Domantas Sabonis (knee), Terence Davis (wrist) and Richaun Holmes (personal) will be out again Tuesday against New Orleans. The Kings have already ruled Davis and Holmes out for the season. Fox and Sabonis are unlikely to return with only two games remaining against the Los Angeles Clippers and Phoenix Suns.
The Pelicans (34-44) are coming off a 119-100 loss to the Clippers, but they had won six of eight to move up to ninth in the Western Conference, one game ahead of the San Antonio Spurs. The Pelicans can clinch a play-in spot with a win over the Kings.
New Orleans is listing Jonas Valanciunas as questionable against the Kings due to right ankle soreness. Kira Lewis Jr. (knee) and Zion Williamson (foot) are out.
Note: Check back throughout the day for updates on tonight’s game between the Kings and Pelicans.
New Orleans Pelicans at Sacramento Kings
When: 7 p.m.
Where: Golden 1 Center
TV: NBC Sports California
Radio: Sports 1140 KHTK
Odds: Pelicans -8.0
Over/under: 226
Injury report
Warriors: QUESTIONABLE — Jonas Valanciunas (ankle). OUT — Kira Lewis Jr. (knee); Zion Williamson (foot).
Kings: QUESTIONABLE — Alex Len (back). OUT — Terence Davis (wrist); De’Aaron Fox (hand); Richaun Holmes (personal); Domantas Sabonis (knee).
