The Sacramento Kings will have to navigate the start of the NBA season without their acclaimed center Domantas Sabonis due to a hamstring injury. The Kings confirmed Sabonis suffered a Grade 1 strain, sidelining him for the opener against the Phoenix Suns, with a re-evaluation slated for the following week. The injury took place during a preseason tilt with the Los Angeles Clippers on October 15, according to KCRA.
There's another hit to the Kings' lineup, with forward Keegan Murray out of commission following left thumb surgery, a recovery that could extend for a few weeks, as Murray had an ulnar collateral ligament tear that needed correcting. As the Kings face off against Utah for the home opener, they'll be short another starter, making it a double whammy for Sacramento's starting five.
In light of the gaps in their lineup, the Kings are looking towards other players, such as Dario Šarić and Drew Eubanks, to potentially fill the void in the starting rotation, both of whom are indicated as contenders by CBS Sports. Isaac Jones, versatile in the frontcourt, could also prove to be a viable option with experience at both power forward and center positions.
Expectations for the Sacramento franchise aren't exactly soaring, as FanDuel pegged them at a meager 34.5 win total forecast for the upcoming campaign, placing them near the bottom of the Western Conference ranks, though they've got decent odds to make a Play-In Tournament appearance; nonetheless, the fans and the team look forward to demonstrating their resilience in the face of early-season adversity.
