Latest injury updates as Sacramento Kings prepare for NBA season opener against Utah Jazz
The Kings got some good news on the injury front Saturday as they prepare for Wednesday’s season opener against the Utah Jazz at Delta Center in Salt Lake City.
League sources told The Sacramento Bee guard Chris Duarte and forward Trey Lyles are both trending toward a return to competition in the coming days after missing an open practice at Fan Fest on Saturday at Golden 1 Center. Duarte was competing for a spot in the starting lineup during the preseason and Lyles is expected to be a key reserve in coach Mike Brown’s rotation.
Duarte started a preseason game against the Golden State Warriors on Oct. 15 before going down with a knee injury late in the first half. An MRI revealed a small bone bruise in his left knee. Sources said Duarte did some shooting Saturday and seems to be trending in the right direction after missing the last two preseason games.
Lyles missed the last two preseason games after feeling discomfort in his left calf during pregame warmups before the Oct. 15 game against Golden State. Sources said an MRI revealed a minor calf strain. Lyles is expected to be out a few more days, but the team is optimistic that it will not be long before he returns.
Sacramento acquired Duarte over the summer in a trade that sent two future second-round draft picks to the Indiana Pacers. The Kings on Saturday exercised a fourth-year option on his contract for the 2024-25 season.
Duarte, a 26-year-old guard, came out of Oregon as the No. 13 pick in the 2021 NBA draft. He was an All-Rookie Second Team selection in 2022 after averaging 13.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.0 steals. He was limited to 46 games due to injuries last season, including a Grade 2 ankle sprain that kept him out for six weeks.
Lyles, a 27-year-old forward, began his career in Utah after coming out of Kentucky as the No. 12 pick in the 2015 draft. He spent six-plus seasons with the Jazz, Denver Nuggets, San Antonio Spurs and Detroit Pistons before the Kings acquired him in a trade that sent Marvin Bagley III to Detroit. Lyles, a power forward who has also been effective as a small-ball center, appeared in 74 games for the Kings last season, averaging 7.6 points and 4.1 rebounds while shooting 36.3% from 3-point range.
