Kings vs. Jazz: Keon Ellis injury update, top Utah players ruled out and 3 things to watch
The Kings will face another injury depleted NBA bottom feeder when they open a four-game road trip against the Utah Jazz on Wednesday at Delta Center in Salt Lake City.
The Kings (29-28) posted a resounding 130-88 victory over the struggling Charlotte Hornets on Monday at Golden 1 Center. Sacramento is 10th in the Western Conference playoff race with a 2 ½-game lead over the Phoenix Suns for the final play-in spot.
The Jazz (14-43) is coming off a 114-112 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers. Utah is tied for the third-worst record in the NBA after losing three of four and six of its last eight.
The Kings are listing Keon Ellis as questionable due to a right ankle sprain. The Jazz will be missing several key players, including Lauri Markkanen, John Collins and Collin Sexton.
The Kings are 3-0 in the season series against the Jazz after winning 113-96 on Oct. 29, 121-117 on Nov. 16 and 141-97 on Dec. 8
Here are three things to watch in Wednesday’s game.
Keon Ellis injury update
Ellis avoided serious injury after spraining his right ankle in Monday’s win over the Hornets. He traveled to Salt Lake City with the team and is considered questionable for Wednesday’s game.
Ellis injured the ankle in the second quarter Monday when he landed on Hornets center Jusuf Nurkic’s foot. He intended to return for the second half but experienced increased soreness after going through warmups following the halftime break.
Ellis, a former two-way player who went undrafted out of Alabama, is averaging 8.0 points, 2.5 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.4 steals in his third NBA season.
LaVine heating up
Zach LaVine struggled in his first four games after the Kings acquired him in the De’Aaron Fox trade, averaging 18.5 points while shooting 42.2% from the field and 19.2% from 3-point range.
Over the past four games, LaVine averaged 27.5 points while shooting 55.1% from the field and 47.2% from beyond the arc. He scored a season-high 42 points against Charlotte on Monday, making 16 of 19 field-goal attempts and 8 of 9 from long distance.
Utah’s injuries
The Jazz will be missing its three leading scorers. Collins and Markkanen are out due to low back injury management. Sexton is out with a left ankle sprain.
Markkanen is averaging 19.3 points and 6.1 rebounds. Collins averages 18.4 points and 8.1 rebounds. Sexton is averaging 18.3 points and 4.1 assists.
Kings at Jazz
When: 6 p.m.
Where: Delta Center
TV: NBC Sports California
Radio: Sactown Sports 1140
Odds: Kings -8.5
Over/under: 235.5
Injury report
Kings: QUESTIONABLE — Keon Ellis (ankle). OUT — Devin Carter (G League); Isaiah Crawford (G League); Isaac Jones (G League).
Jazz: QUESTIONABLE — Walker Kessler (illness). OUT — John Collins (back); Elijah Harkless (G League); Taylor Hendricks (fibula); Lauri Markkanen (back); Collin Sexton (ankle); Oscar Tshiebwe (G League).
This story was originally published February 26, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
