Kings vs. Rockets gameday: Malik Monk, Tari Eason injury updates and 3 things to watch
Malik Monk could return to the lineup when the Kings play host to the Houston Rockets on Thursday at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento.
Monk missed Tuesday’s game against the Milwaukee Bucks due to right groin soreness. He is listed as probable for Thursday’s game. Rookie guard Devin Carter is questionable because of left shoulder soreness. Jordan McLaughlin is out due to personal reasons.
The Kings (20-20) had their seven-game winning streak snapped with a 130-115 loss to the Bucks. They are ninth in the Western Conference playoff race, two games behind the Los Angeles Clippers for the No. 6 seed.
The Rockets (27-12) are second in the West, six games behind the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder. They will face the Kings on the second night of a back-to-back after opening a three-game road trip with a win over the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday, extending their winning streak to five games.
The Kings beat the Rockets 120-111 on Dec. 3 in Sacramento. Rockets coach Ime Udoka, forward Tari Eason and center Alperen Sengun were fined $50,000, $35,000 and $15,000, respectively, after tempers flared in the final minutes.
Here are three things to watch in Thursday’s game.
Houston’s injuries
The Rockets won’t submit an injury report until Thursday afternoon because they played Wednesday night, but they will be missing one starter and possibly one of their top reserves.
Jabari Smith Jr., the team’s starting power forward, is out four to eight weeks with a left metacarpal fracture. Smith is averaging 11.9 points and 6.5 rebounds.
Eason, a backup forward, has missed the past 13 games, but he seems to be nearing a return. Eason was listed as doubtful before being ruled out for Wednesday’s game against the Nuggets due to left lower leg injury management. Eason had 16 points, 12 rebounds and three steals against the Kings in December.
Kevin Huerter’s struggles
Kings guard Kevin Huerter has struggled this season, averaging a career-low 8.8 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.9 assists while shooting 42.3% from the field and a career-worst 30.9% from 3-point range.
Huerter’s numbers have been even worse since Doug Christie was named interim coach after Mike Brown was fired Dec. 27. Over the past nine games, Huerter has averaged 6.4 points while shooting 39.7% from the field and 29.4% from beyond the arc.
Points off turnovers
The Kings are fourth in the NBA in turnovers, averaging just 13.2 per game, but the Rockets might put them to the test.
The Rockets have scored at least 25 points off turnovers in each of their past four games. They scored 34 points off turnovers in Wednesday’s win over the Nuggets.
Rockets at Kings
When: 7 p.m.
Where: Golden 1 Center
TV: TNT
Radio: Sactown Sports 1140
Odds: Kings -2.5
Over/under: 227.5
Injury report
Rockets: Not yet submitted.
Kings: PROBABLE — Malik Monk (groin). QUESTIONABLE — Devin Carter (shoulder). OUT — Isaiah Crawford (G League); Mason Jones (G League); Jordan McLaughlin (personal).
Upcoming schedule
Jan. 16 vs. Houston Rockets
Jan. 19 vs. Washington Wizards
Jan. 22 vs. Golden State Warriors
Jan. 23 at Denver Nuggets
Jan. 25 at New York Knicks
This story was originally published January 16, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
