The Sacramento Kings will face the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse on Friday, January 23, with tipoff scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET. The Kings enter the game on a three-game losing streak, holding a 12-33 record, while the Cavaliers are 25-20 and coming off a win against the Charlotte Hornets.
Sacramento will be without Keegan Murray due to a left ankle sprain. G League two-way players Daeqwon Plowden and Isaiah Stevens are also sidelined. The absence of Murray, who averages 14.6 points and 6.1 rebounds in 35.9 minutes per game, leaves a significant scoring and rebounding gap for the Kings.
Cleveland’s injury list is longer, with Darius Garland out with a right great toe sprain. Max Strus remains sidelined after left foot surgery for a Jones fracture, and Sam Merrill is inactive with a right hand sprain. G League two-way players Chris Livingston and Luke Travers are also unavailable. Garland’s absence removes a primary playmaker who averages 18 points and nearly seven assists per game.
DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine will carry the Kings’ offensive load, averaging 18.8 and 19.8 points per game, respectively. Domantas Sabonis continues to provide inside presence, contributing 15.4 points and 11.4 rebounds per contest.
For the Cavaliers, Donovan Mitchell leads scoring at 28.9 points per game, supported by Evan Mobley’s 17.7 points and 8.7 rebounds. Jarrett Allen’s 7.9 rebounds per game will be critical against Sacramento’s frontcourt.
