Kings vs. Thunder gameday: Fox vs. SGA; Monk, Holmgren, Caruso injuries; 3 things to watch
The Kings will try to end their first three-game losing streak of the season Monday, but they will have to do it on the second night of a back-to-back against one of the top teams in the NBA.
The Kings (8-9) are reeling from losses to the Atlanta Hawks, Los Angeles Clippers and Brooklyn Nets. They have lost four of their last five and six of nine to fall to 12th in the Western Conference.
Oklahoma City will be well rested after four days off. The Thunder (12-4) suffered back-to-back losses to the Dallas Mavericks and San Antonio Spurs before beating the Portland Trail Blazers 109-99 on Wednesday.
The Kings won’t submit an injury report until Monday afternoon because they played Sunday, but Malik Monk’s status will be worth monitoring. Monk has missed the past seven games after going down with a right ankle sprain in a Nov. 10 victory over the Phoenix Suns, but he was upgraded to questionable before being ruled out for Sunday’s game against the Nets.
Oklahoma City is missing Chet Holmgren, who is expected to miss six to eight more weeks with a pelvic fracture. Holmgren averaged 16.4 points, 7.9 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 2.3 blocks while shooting 37.8% from 3-point range over 10 games before suffering the injury.
Isaiah Joe is questionable for Monday’s game due to a left calf contusion. Alex Caruso is out with a right hip strain, Ousmane Dieng is out with a fractured right finger, Nikola Topic is out after undergoing left knee surgery and Jaylin Williams is out with a right hamstring strain.
Here are three things to watch in Monday’s game.
Fox vs. SGA
Two of the most dynamic young point guards in the NBA will do battle when Sacramento faces Oklahoma City.
De’Aaron Fox is averaging 28.9 points, 4.9 rebounds, 5.7 assists and 1.7 steals while shooting 51.1% from the field and 35.6% from 3-point range. He is sixth in the NBA in scoring.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 28.7 points, 5.1 rebounds, 6.3 assists, 1.8 steals and 1.1 blocks while shooting 50% from the field. Gilgeous-Alexander is shooting just 33.7% from 3-point range, but he is eighth in the NBA in scoring.
Bench scoring
The Kings are looking for more consistent production from their bench after some uneven results over the first 17 games.
Keon Ellis went off for a career-high 33 points while going 9 of 15 from 3-point range in last week’s loss to the Hawks. In Sunday’s loss to the Nets, Sacramento’s bench was outscored 44-9 with Ellis accounting for all nine points.
Turnovers and free throws
Turnovers and missed free throws cost the Kings dearly in Sunday’s loss 108-103 loss to the Nets. They will try to clean up both areas in Monday’s game against the Thunder.
The Kings went 20 of 31 at the free-throw line against Brooklyn, shooting just 64.5%. They also allowed 24 points off 16 turnovers.
Thunder at Kings
When: 7 p.m.
Where: Golden 1 Center
TV: NBC Sports California
Radio: Sactown Sports 1140
Odds: Thunder -4.5
Over/under: 224.5
Injury report
Thunder: QUESTIONABLE — Isaiah Joe (calf). OUT — Alex Caruso (hip); Ousmane Dieng (finger); Alex Ducas (G League); Chet Holmgren (pelvis); Nikola Topic (knee); Jaylin Williams (hamstring).
Kings: OUT — Not yet submitted.
