Kings vs. Heat gameday: De’Aaron Fox’s injury, Kevin Huerter’s status, 3 things to watch
The Kings will wrap up a four-game road trip when they visit the Miami Heat on Monday at Kaseya Center.
Kings guard Kevin Huerter has been ruled out for the second game in a row after missing Saturday’s game against the Toronto Raptors due to illness.
Sacramento beat the Utah Jazz and Atlanta Hawks to start the trip before suffering a 131-128 overtime loss to the Raptors. Following the loss, Kings point guard De’Aaron Fox revealed new details about an injury he sustained early in training camp.
Fox said he dislocated the pinkie on his left shooting hand. X-rays were negative, but the injury has not healed.
Fox told The Sacramento Bee’s Chris Biderman he is likely suffering from ligament damage, but he is trying to play through an injury that would likely take a month to fully heal. Fox was shooting 36.7% from 3-point range before a 0-of-11 performance against the Raptors dropped him to 26.8%.
The Kings (3-3) will come home following the game in Miami. They will play host to the Raptors on Wednesday and the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday.
The Heat (3-2) is coming off a 118-98 victory over the Washington Wizards. Bam Adebayo had 32 points and 14 rebounds in the win. Jaime Jaquez Jr., who is averaging 9.4 points and 7.6 rebounds, has been ruled out due to gastroenteritis. Kevin Love (return to competition) is also out.
Here are three things to watch in Monday’s game.
Scouting the Miami Heat
Miami opened the season with a 116-97 loss to the Orlando Magic before beating the Charlotte Hornets 114-106 and the Detroit Pistons 106-98. The Heat suffered a 116-107 loss to the New York Knicks on Wednesday before beating the Wizards on Saturday.
Tyler Herro is averaging a team-high 20.8 points, 5.0 rebounds and 4.4 assists while shooting 43.9% from 3-point range on 8.2 attempts per game. Terry Rozier has also been hot, averaging 17.2 points, 4.6 rebounds and 4.4 assists while shooting 42.5% from 3-point range on 8.0 attempts.
Jimmy Butler is putting up 17.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, 5.6 assists and 1.8 steals, but he is shooting a career-low 12.5% from beyond the arc. Adebayo is averaging 15.2 points and 8.6 rebounds.
Miami is struggling offensively, ranking 19th in the NBA in offensive rating (110.8), 23rd in points per game (108.4) and 25th in field-goal percentage (.433). The Heat has been much better defensively, ranking No. 5 in opponent points per game (106.8) and No. 9 in defensive rating (109.2).
Sacramento’s offense
Kings coach Mike Brown and associate head coach Jay Triano have Sacramento’s offense humming after adding DeMar DeRozan to a group that already featured Fox, Huerter, Malik Monk, Keegan Murray and Domantas Sabonis.
The Kings are No. 4 in the NBA in points per game (119.5 ppg), No. 5 in field-goal percentage (.483) and No. 7 in offensive rating (115.1) despite ranking No. 26 in 3-point shooting (.325). DeRozan has scored 20 or more points in his first six games with the Kings, tying Oscar Robertson for the second-longest such streak in franchise history.
Free-throw shooting
Free-throw shooting has been a big part of Sacramento’s offense through the first six games.
The Kings are No. 1 in the NBA in free-throw shooting at 83.2% and No. 6 in free-throw attempts (26.8) after ranking 21st in attempts (20.9) and 30th in percentage (.745) last season.
Fox is shooting 87.5% on 5.3 attempts per game. DeRozan is shooting 85.4% on 8.0 attempts. Sabonis is shooting 81.6% on 6.3 attempts.
Kings at Heat
When: 5:15 p.m.
Where: Kaseya Center
TV: NBC Sports California
Radio: Sactown Sports 1140
Odds: Heat -2.5
Over/under: 225.5
Injury report
Kings: QUESTIONABLE — Kevin Huerter (illness). OUT — Devin Carter (shoulder); Isaiah Crawford (G League); Mason Jones (G League); Orlando Robinson (knee).
Raptors: QUESTIONABLE — Jaime Jaquez Jr. (illness). OUT — Josh Christopher (G League); Keshad Johnson (G League).
Sacramento Kings schedule
Nov. 4 at Miami Heat
Nov. 6 vs. Toronto Raptors
Nov. 8 vs. Los Angeles Clippers
Nov. 10 at Phoenix Suns
Nov. 11 at San Antonio Spurs
This story was originally published November 4, 2024 at 5:00 AM.
