Kings vs. Nuggets: Sabonis, Monk, Jokic, Gordon injury updates and three things to watch
Both teams could be missing key starters when the Sacramento Kings conclude a four-game road trip against the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday at Ball Arena.
All-NBA center Domantas Sabonis will be out again with a left hamstring strain. Malik Monk is considered questionable due to a right toe sprain.
The Nuggets are listing three-time MVP Nikola Jokic as questionable with left ankle inflammation. Aaron Gordon is questionable due to a left ankle sprain.
The Kings (32-28) have won four in a row to move up to eighth in the Western Conference playoff race. They are a half-game behind the Minnesota Timberwolves for seventh and one game behind the Golden State Warriors for the No. 6 seed.
The Nuggets (39-22) are third in the West, a half-game behind the Los Angeles Lakers for the No. 2 seed. They won 11 of 13 before suffering a 110-103 loss to the Boston Celtics on Sunday.
Here are three things to watch in Wednesday’s game.
Sacramento’s starters
Interim Kings coach Doug Christie will likely start Keon Ellis if Monk is unable to play. Jonas Valanciunas will continue to start in place of Sabonis, who is expected to be reevaluated this weekend.
Valanciunas, who was acquired in a Feb. 5 trade with the Washington Wizards, has filled in admirably since Sabonis was injured less than 90 seconds into Saturday’s 113-103 victory over the Houston Rockets.
Valanciunas put up 15 points, 14 rebounds, four steals and three blocked shots against the Rockets. He had 14, nine rebounds, three assists and two blocks in Monday’s 122-98 victory over the Dallas Mavericks.
Valanciunas has started 840 of 915 games over 13 NBA seasons. He started all 82 games for the New Orleans Pelicans last season, averaging 12.2 points, 8.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 0.8 blocks.
Opportunity for Ellis?
Many fans have clamored for Ellis to start all season. The Kings are 8-3 with him in the starting lineup this season.
Ellis is averaging 8.0 points, 2.5 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 1.4 steals and 0.8 blocks in 22.6 minutes per game. He is shooting 48.1% from the field and 43.8% from 3-point range.
Ellis is a 3-and-D specialist and maybe the team’s top defender. He has been part of Sacramento’s highest-rated five-man lineups throughout the season, before and after the De’Aaron Fox trade.
If Monk is out in addition to Sabonis, the Kings will likely start Ellis, Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, Keegan Murray and Valanciunas. That group has logged only 11 minutes, posting an offensive rating of 150.0, a defensive rating of 69.2 and a net rating of 80.8.
Will Jokic and Gordon play?
Denver is favored by 6 ½ points, but the odds could be tipped in Sacramento’s favor if Jokic and Gordon are out.
Jokic is having another MVP-caliber season. He is averaging 28.9 points, 12.7 rebounds, 10.4 assists and 1.8 steals while shooting 57.8% from the field and 44.3% from 3-point range.
Gordon averages 12.9 points, 4.9 rebounds and 3.1 assists. He is shooting 51.1% from the field and 41.5% from beyond the arc.
Kings at Nuggets
When: 6 p.m.
Where: Ball Arena
TV: NBC Sports California
Radio: Sactown Sports 1140
Odds: Nuggets -6.5
Over/under: 236.5
Injury report
Kings: QUESTIONABLE — Malik Monk (toe). OUT — Isaiah Crawford (G League); Mason Jones (G League); Domantas Sabonis (hamstring).
Nuggets: QUESTIONABLE — Vlatko Cancar (knee); Aaron Gordon (ankle); Nikola Jokic (ankle); Zeke Nnaji (ankle); Peyton Watson (knee). OUT — Trey Alexander (G League); PJ Hall (G League); DaRon Holmes II (Achilles); Julian Strawther (knee).
