Kings vs. Nets gameday: Malik Monk, Cam Thomas, Nic Claxton injuries and 3 things to watch
The Kings will try to avoid their first three-game losing streak of the season when they play host to the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday at Golden 1 Center.
Sacramento will also get a closer look at a couple of potential trade targets as general manager Monte McNair explores opportunities to improve the team’s size, length and wing depth before the February trade deadline.
The Kings (8-8) have lost two in a row, three of four and five of their last eight. They are coming off a disappointing 104-88 loss to the shorthanded Los Angeles Clippers in an NBA Cup in-season tournament game Friday at Intuit Dome in Inglewood.
The Nets (6-10) opened a four-game road trip with a 113-98 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday despite a 37-point performance from Cameron Johnson, a player the Kings targeted in past trade talks. The Nets will visit the Golden State Warriors on Monday and the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday.
Here are three things to watch in Sunday’s game.
Injury issues
Both teams have players out with injuries.
DeMar DeRozan and Domantas Sabonis returned to the lineup Friday, but Kings guard Malik Monk will miss his seventh consecutive game due to the right ankle sprain he sustained in a Nov. 10 win over the Suns.
Cam Thomas (lower back tightness) is probable for the Nets. Thomas leads the team in scoring, averaging 24.2 points per game while shooting 38.5% from 3-point range on 7.3 attempts per game.
Nic Claxton (lower back strain) and Dorian Finney-Smith (left ankle sprain) are questionable. Bojan Bogdanovic (left foot injury recovery) and Day’Ron Sharpe (left hamstring strain) are out.
Trade targets
The Athletic’s Sam Amick recently reported the Nets are expected to be “open for business” with a potential fire sale coming before the NBA trade deadline.
Thomas, a 6-foot-4 guard, will be a hot commodity. The Kings might circle back on Johnson or Finney-Smith, two combo forwards they were believed to be pursuing leading up to the NBA draft.
Johnson is a 6-8 forward with a 6-10 wingspan. He is averaging 19.3 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.9 assists, shooting 49.8% from the field, 42.3% from 3-point range and 91.8% at the free-throw line. Finney-Smith is a 6-7 forward with a 6-11 wingspan who averages 10.8 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.8 assists, shooting 46.6% from the field, 41% from beyond the arc and 61.1% at the foul line.
3-point shooting and free throws
This game could be decided by 3-point shooting and free throws.
Brooklyn is sixth in the NBA in 3-point attempts (41.6) and ninth in 3-point percentage (.376). Sacramento is 16th in 3-point attempts (37.4) and 26th in 3-point shooting (.331).
The Kings actually led the NBA in 3-point shooting at 43.4% in the four games leading up to Friday’s loss to the Clippers, but they lost their touch in that contest, going 7 of 35 (.200) from beyond the arc.
Free throws could be another factor. The Kings are third in the NBA in free-throw shooting at 81.9%. The Nets are 27th in opponent free-throw attempts, sending teams to the line 25.8 times per game.
Nets at Kings
When: 6 p.m.
Where: Golden 1 Center
TV: NBC Sports California
Radio: Sactown Sports 1140
Odds: Kings -8.5
Over/under: 223.5
Injury report
Nets: PROBABLE — Cam Thomas (back). QUESTIONABLE — Nic Claxton (back); Dorian Finney-Smith (ankle). OUT — Bojan Bogdanovic (foot); Jaylen Martin (G League); Day’Ron Sharpe (hamstring); Dariq Whitehead (G League); Cui Yongxi (G League).
Kings: OUT — Devin Carter (shoulder); Isaiah Crawford (ankle); Mason Jones (hamstring); Malik Monk (ankle).
This story was originally published November 24, 2024 at 5:00 AM.
