Kings vs. Knicks: Zach LaVine, Malik Monk injury updates; key storylines
The Kings managed to knock off the New York Knicks as part of their four-game winning streak on Jan. 14 in Sacramento.
They will try to do it again when they visit the Knicks as part of their current six-game road trip Tuesday at Madison Square Garden.
The Kings could be shorthanded with Zach LaVine (lower back soreness) and Malik Monk (right ankle soreness) are listed as questionable for Sacramento. Keegan Murray is still out with a left ankle sprain.
The Kings (12-35) are hoping to snap a five-game losing streak. They suffered a 139-116 loss to the Detroit Pistons on Sunday after starting the road trip with a 123-118 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday.
The Knicks (27-18) are coming off back-to-back wins over the Brooklyn Nets and Philadelphia 76ers after losing four in a row and nine of 11. They are fourth in the Eastern Conference, 6 ½ games back of the top-seeded Pistons.
Here are three key storylines going into Tuesday’s game.
Kings snubbed for Rising Stars
Rookie centers Maxime Raynaud and Dylan Cardwell have been outstanding for the Kings, but neither was chosen to participate in the Rising Stars tournament at All-Star Weekend when the player pool was announced Monday.
Rising Stars are chosen by NBA assistant coaches with each team submitting a ballot ranking 10 rookies and 10 sophomores. A strong case could have been made for both Raynaud and Cardwell.
Raynaud, a 7-foot-1, 250-pound center, was selected out of Stanford with the 42nd overall pick in the second round of the 2025 draft. Raynaud has appeared in 39 games and made 24 starts while Domantas Sabonis was out with a knee injury. He is averaging 9.5 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.1 assists while shooting 53.4% from the field and 27.3% from 3-point range.
Cardwell, a 6-10, 255-pound center who signed a two-way contract with the Kings after going undrafted out of Auburn, has been one of the more remarkable rookie stories in the NBA this season. He has appeared in 20 games, averaging 4.8 points, 7.1 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.7 blocks and 0.8 steals while shooting 57.7%.
Draft position
The Kings’ current five-game losing streak has offset their recent four-game winning streak in terms of Sacramento’s projected NBA draft lottery position.
The Kings have the second-worst record in the Western Conference and the fourth-worst record in the NBA. They are only 1 ½ games ahead of the Washington Wizards and one game ahead of the Indiana Pacers for the two worst records in the NBA.
The three worst teams in the league will have a 52.1% chance of securing a top four pick and a 14% chance of landing the No. 1 pick.
Guarding Jalen Brunson
Knicks star Jalen Brunson logged only five minutes before leaving the Jan. 14 game against the Kings with a right ankle sprain.
Brunson is back in the lineup after missing two games due to the injury. He scored 31 points in Saturday’s win over the Philadelphia 76ers.
Brunson is averaging 28.0 points and 6.1 assists while shooting 47.7% from the field and 38.4% from 3-point range.
Kings at Knicks
When: 4:30 p.m.
Where: Madison Square Garden
TV: NBC Sports California
Radio: Sactown Sports 1140
Odds: Knicks -13.5
Over/under: 230.5
Injury report
Kings: QUESTIONABLE — Zach LaVine (back); Malik Monk (ankle). OUT — Keegan Murray (ankle); Daeqwon Plowden (G League); Isaiah Stevens (G League).
Knicks: QUESTIONABLE — Trey Jemison III (G League); Dillon Jones (G League); Kevin McCullar Jr. (G League).
