Kings vs. Bulls: Season-ending surgery for Zach LaVine; injury updates; scouting reports
The Kings will look to improve on a successful road trip when they visit the shorthanded Chicago Bulls on Saturday at United Center.
Sacramento will be on the second night of a back-to-back after handing the Indiana Pacers a 133-122 loss on Friday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The Kings are 4-1 so far on a season-long seven-game, 13-day road trip that will come to an end when they face the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday.
The Kings (28-19) will likely be without rookie forward Sasha Vezenkov, who has missed the past five games with a right ankle sprain.
The Bulls (23-26) have bigger problems. Lonzo Ball is out after undergoing left knee surgery and the Bulls announced Saturday that Zach LaVine will undergo season-ending surgery on his right foot.
Earlier this week, the Bulls announced Patrick Williams will miss at least two weeks with acute bone edema in his left foot. In addition, Coby White is questionable for Saturday’s game against the Kings with left ankle soreness, Torrey Craig is questionable with a right plantar fascia sprain and Dalen Terry is doubtful with a right ankle sprain.
Scouting Sacramento
Sacramento is fifth in the Western Conference, 4 ½ games behind the Denver Nuggets for the No. 4 seed. The Kings are five games behind the conference-leading Oklahoma City Thunder and Minnesota Timberwolves.
De’Aaron Fox is averaging a career-high 27.1 points, 4.0 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 1.7 steals. He is shooting 46.8% from the field and a career-best 37.7% from 3-point range.
Sabonis averages 20.0 points, 13.0 rebounds and 8.0 assists. He leads the league in rebounding and double-doubles (43). Sabonis has recorded 30 consecutive double-doubles, breaking Oscar Robertson’s single-season franchise record. Sabonis is shooting 61.7% from the field and 44.2% from 3-point range.
Keegan Murray (15.9 ppg, 5.4 rpg), Malik Monk (14.4 ppg, 5.3 apg), Harrison Barnes (12.1 ppg), Kevin Huerter (11.0 ppg) and Trey Lyles (7.1 ppg, 4.5 rpg) are also playing key roles for Sacramento.
Scouting Chicago
The Bulls are ninth in the Eastern Conference, 3 ½ games behind the Pacers for the final automatic playoff berth in the East.
DeMar DeRozan leads the team in scoring, averaging 22.0 points, 4.0 rebounds and 5.3 assists. LaVine averages 19.5 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.9 assists. White, who scored 35 points in a 117-110 victory over the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday, is averaging 19.0 points, 4.7 rebounds and 5.1 assists.
Two-time All-Star Nikola Vucevic is averaging 17.0 points, 10.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists. Alex Caruso (10.1 ppg) and Williams (10.0 ppg) are also scoring in double figures.
Status updates
The Bulls have cleared White and Craig to play in Saturday’s game against the Kings. Terry has been ruled out.
Kings at Bulls
When: 5 p.m.
Where: United Center
TV: NBC Sports California
Radio: Sactown Sports 1140
Odds: Bulls -1.5
Over/under: 228.5
Injury report
Kings: Not yet submitted.
Bulls: QUESTIONABLE — Torrey Craig (plantar fascia); Coby White (ankle). DOUBTFUL — Dalen Terry (ankle). OUT — Lonzo Ball (knee); Zach LaVine (ankle); Patrick Williams (foot).
Upcoming schedule
Feb. 3 at Chicago Bulls
Feb. 5 at Cleveland Cavaliers
Feb. 7 vs. Detroit Pistons
Feb. 9 vs. Denver Nuggets
Feb. 11 at Oklahoma City Thunder
This story was originally published February 3, 2024 at 4:00 AM.
