Kings-Pacers gameday live: Fox out vs. Indiana; Sabonis, Haliburton named NBA All-Stars
Domantas Sabonis won’t have De’Aaron Fox by his side when he faces his former team in Indianapolis for the first time Friday night.
Fox has been ruled out as the Kings prepare to play the Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge FieldHouse. The evening will serve as a celebration of Sabonis and former Kings guard Tyrese Haliburton – the player he was traded for – a day after both players were selected as NBA All-Stars.
The Kings on Thursday announced Fox would be out due to personal reasons. That led to widespread speculation among fans weeks after Fox announced he and his wife, Reece Caldwell, are expecting their first child. Team officials declined to provide additional information, saying only that Fox was out because of a personal matter and they wouldn’t comment any further.
The Kings (29-21) are coming off back-to-back road wins over the Minnesota Timberwolves and San Antonio Spurs. They are third in the Western Conference, just two games behind the Memphis Grizzlies for the No. 2 seed.
The Pacers (24-29) have lost four in a row and 11 of their last 12. Haliburton returned from a 10-game injury absence to post 26 points and 12 assists in a 112-111 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday. The Pacers have not indicated whether Haliburton will play against the Kings on the second night of a back-to-back.
Haliburton, who spent most of his first two seasons in Sacramento before being traded to the Pacers, was selected as an All-Star for the first time Thursday when he was chosen as an Eastern Conference reserve. The 22-year-old point guard is averaging 20.2 points, 4.0 rebounds and 10.2 assists in his third season out of Iowa State.
Sabonis earned his third All-Star selection as a reserve in the Western Conference. The 26-year-old center is averaging 18.8 points, 12.4 rebounds and 7.1 assists in his seventh NBA season out of Gonzaga.
Haliburton questionable
The Pacers are listing Haliburton as questionable for Friday’s game against the Kings. Haliburton returned from knee and elbow injuries in Thursday’s loss to the Lakers. Daniel Theis, who just came back from knee surgery, is also questionable after logging seven minutes in his season debut against the Lakers.
Kings at Pacers
When: 4 p.m.
Where: Gainbridge Fieldhouse
TV: NBC Sports California
Radio: Sactown Sports 1140
Odds: Kings -3.5
Over/under: 234
Injury report
Kings: OUT — De’Aaron Fox (personal); KZ Okpala (G League); Neemias Queta (G League).
Spurs: QUESTIONABLE — Kendall Brown (G League); Tyrese Haliburton (knee/elbow); Trevelin Queen (G League); Daniel Theis (knee).
Upcoming schedule
Feb. 3 at Indiana Pacers
Feb. 5 at New Orleans Pelicans
Feb 6. at Houston Rockets
Feb. 8 at Houston Rockets
Feb. 10 vs. Dallas Mavericks
This story was originally published February 3, 2023 at 4:00 AM.
