Kings-Cavaliers gameday live: Family issue weighing on Keegan Murray, but ‘getting better’
Note: Come back to this story throughout the day for the latest news, notes and injury updates on today’s game.
Kings rookie Keegan Murray didn’t look like himself during the team’s recent four-game road trip. There might have been a reason for that.
Murray said he has been troubled by a private family matter lately. He acknowledged that the issue has weighed on his mind, but he said the situation is improving.
“There’s some stuff going on, but it’s nothing major, I guess,” Murray told The Sacramento Bee. “Just some family stuff, but it’s all good now. It’s getting better.”
Murray will feel the love of the Sacramento crowd once again when the Kings play host to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday at Golden 1 Center. They will then visit the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday before coming back to Sacramento for a four-game homestand.
The Kings (3-6) split four games on the road, beating the Charlotte Hornets and Orlando Magic while suffering controversial losses to the Miami Heat and Golden State Warriors.
The Cavaliers (8-2), who have former Kings coach Luke Walton on staff as an assistant, won eight in a row before suffering a 119-117 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday.
Murray put up big numbers in his first four NBA games, averaging 15.0 points on 28-of-52 (.538) shooting. During the team’s road trip, he averaged 7.0 points while going 11 of 35 (.314) from the field.
Kings coach Mike Brown was asked how the team can get Murray going again.
“Just keep encouraging him,” Brown said. “He’s a rookie, and you know the ups and downs are going to come for him. You don’t know when they’re going to come. They may last two games. They may last 10 games.
“At the end of the day, we’re going to stay with him. He’s our guy. He knows that, with the game of basketball, especially at our level, there are things you’ve got to take care of on the floor, things you’ve got to take care of off the floor, and go through the experiences of them, either good or bad, while trying to keep your game at a really high level. Sometimes it’s a little tougher than others, but he’s going to be fine. Like I said, he’s our guy. We’re going to stay with him, and he knows how to play, so he’ll figure it out.”
Status of Malik Monk
Kings guard Malik Monk is questionable for Wednesday’s game against the Cavaliers due to right groin soreness.
Monk took time to get acclimated at the start of the season, shooting just over 34% while averaging 8.3 points over the first six games, but he has been a bolt of lighting off the bench over the past three games.
In games against the Heat, Magic and Warriors, Monk averaged 19.3 points, 2.3 rebounds and 5.3 assists while shooting 51.3% from the field and 40% from 3-point range. He scored a season-high 24 points with six rebounds and four assists in Monday’s dramatic loss to Golden State.
Latest on Monk
Monk participated in Sacramento’s morning shootaround and will likely be available for Wednesday’s game against the Cavaliers.
Cavaliers at Kings
When: 7 p.m.
Where: Golden 1 Center
TV: NBC Sports California
Radio: Sactown Sports 1140
Odds: Cavaliers -5.0
Over/under: 226
Injury report
Cavaliers: OUT — Isaiah Mobley (G League); Ricky Rubio (ACL); Dylan Windler (ankle).
Kings: QUESTIONABLE — Malik Monk (groin).
Upcoming schedule
11/9 vs. Cleveland Cavaliers
11/11 at Los Angeles Lakers
11/13 vs. Golden State Warriors
11/15 vs. Brooklyn Nets
11/17 vs. San Antonio Spurs
This story was originally published November 9, 2022 at 4:00 AM.
