Kings vs. Timberwolves gameday: TV, odds, injuries, 3 things to look for in season opener
The Kings will welcome back two key members of coach Mike Brown’s rotation when they play host to the Minnesota Timberwolves in their season opener Thursday at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento.
Kevin Huerter and Trey Lyles have been cleared to return after missing training camp and all five preseason games. Huerter needed surgery after a torn labrum in his left shoulder caused him to miss the end of the 2023-24 season. Lyles has been out since suffering a groin injury during an offseason workout.
The Kings (0-0) are hoping to light the beam after going winless in preseason play for the first time since 1991. Brown has indicated Huerter will likely step back into the starting lineup along with De’Aaron Fox, DeMar DeRozan, Keegan Murray and Domantas Sabonis.
The Timberwolves (0-1) are coming off a 110-103 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers after dropping their season opener Tuesday at Crypto.com Arena. They will go home after Thursday’s game to face the Toronto Raptors, Dallas Mavericks and Denver Nuggets.
Here are three things to look for in Thursday’s game.
New look for Timberwolves
Minnesota will have a different look after winning 56 games to finish third in the Western Conference last season.
The Timberwolves traded Karl-Anthony Towns to the New York Knicks in a deal that sent Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo to Minnesota. Randle and DiVincenzo join a group that features Mike Conley, Anthony Edwards, Jaden McDaniels and Rudy Gobert with reigning Sixth Man of the Year Naz Reid coming off the bench.
Randle had 16 points, nine rebounds and four assists in his Timberwolves debut against the Lakers on Tuesday. DiVincenzo, who played for the Kings in 2021-22, had 10 points, three rebounds, three assists and two steals.
Sacramento’s shooting and defense
Sacramento struggled with shooting and defense while going 0-5 during the preseason.
Offensively, the Kings ranked 28th in field-goal percentage (.420) and 32nd in 3-point shooting (.254). Defensively, they ranked 30th in opponent field-goal percentage (.503) and 31st in opponent 3-point percentage (.421).
The Kings know they will have to be much better on both ends of the floor in order to contend for a playoff spot in the West. Brown isn’t worried about shooting, but he has acknowledged concerns about his team’s defense.
Fitting in
The Kings have installed new wrinkles in their offense with the addition of DeRozan. They are also implementing changes in their defense with an emphasis on shifts to keep the ball out of the paint.
Jordan McLaughlin returned from an ankle sprain to play the last three preseason games, but Huerter and Lyles will have to learn on the fly after missing the preseason. How quickly the Kings can get Huerter and Lyles up to speed might determine how well they play over the first couple weeks of the season.
Timberwolves at Kings
When: 7 p.m.
Where: Golden 1 Center
TV: NBC Sports California
Radio: Sactown Sports 1140
Odds: Timberwolves -1.5
Over/under: 226.5
Injury report
Timberwolves: None.
Kings: OUT — Devin Carter (shoulder), Kevin Orlando Robinson (knee).
Sacramento Kings schedule
Oct. 24 vs. Minnesota Timberwolves
Oct. 26 at Los Angeles Lakers
Oct. 28 vs. Portland Trail Blazers
Oct. 29 at Utah Jazz
Nov. 1 at Atlanta Hawks
This story was originally published October 24, 2024 at 5:00 AM.
