The Memphis Grizzlies and Sacramento Kings finalize preparations for Sunday’s meeting at Golden 1 Center with both clubs navigating significant injury issues as they look to change early-season trends.
Memphis arrives at 8–12 after winning two straight, including a 112–107 victory over the Clippers on November 28.
The Grizzlies also defeated New Orleans 133–128 in overtime on November 26, giving the team its most stable stretch in nearly a month.
Sacramento enters at 5–15 and carries a two-game losing streak after dropping contests to Utah and Phoenix this week.
The Kings fell 128–119 to the Jazz on November 28 and lost 112–100 to the Suns two nights earlier, continuing a pattern of defensive inconsistency.
This is the second meeting between the teams this season, with Memphis winning 137–96 on November 20 behind its most efficient scoring performance of the year.
The Grizzlies’ depth is again limited, as Ja Morant remains out with a right calf strain.
His absence removes a ball handler averaging 17.9 points and 7.6 assists, forcing Memphis to continue leaning on Jaren Jackson Jr. and its committee of wings.
Jackson enters the night averaging 18.6 points on 47.2 percent shooting while also contributing 5.1 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game.
Memphis is also without Brandon Clarke, Ty Jerome, Scotty Pippen Jr., and Javon Small, leaving the rotation heavily reliant on Cedric Coward, Santi Aldama, and Jaylen Wells.
Aldama provides 13.8 points and 6.7 rebounds per game and remains one of the club’s more reliable scoring outlets when Memphis shifts to larger lineups.
Coward adds 13.4 points and 5.9 rebounds, giving the Grizzlies another steady perimeter option.
Sacramento faces a larger challenge as Domantas Sabonis is unavailable due to a partial meniscus tear in his left knee.
The Kings lose their leading rebounder and a core facilitator who contributed 17.2 points, 12.3 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game.
Dylan Cardwell, Daeqwon Plowden, and Isaiah Stevens remain out on two-way assignments.
Dennis Schroder is questionable with a right hip flexor strain, leaving uncertainty at point guard for a team already struggling to stabilize its offense.
The Kings continue to rely on Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, and Russell Westbrook for scoring balance.
LaVine enters averaging 20.8 points on 49.3 percent shooting, while DeRozan contributes 18.2 points and consistent mid-range efficiency.
Westbrook adds 14.1 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 6.8 assists, giving Sacramento a needed playmaking presence when lineups shift away from traditional sets.
Sacramento averages 112.0 points per game but has struggled to replace Sabonis’s rebounding and interior creation.
Memphis scores 113.3 per game and enters with better recent rhythm, though the club’s ongoing injuries continue to test its ability to sustain pace and shot creation.
Tip-off is scheduled for 9:00 p.m. ET in Sacramento.
