The Portland Trail Blazers visit the Sacramento Kings on Saturday, December 20, with tipoff scheduled for 10:00 PM ET at Golden 1 Center. Portland carries an 11-16 record with a two-game winning streak, while Sacramento is 6-21 and riding a four-game losing skid.
Portland faces multiple absences, including Damian Lillard (left Achilles, injury management), Scoot Henderson (left hamstring tear), Jrue Holiday (right calf strain), Matisse Thybulle (left thumb ligament tear), and Blake Wesley (right foot fracture). Jerami Grant is listed as questionable with left Achilles soreness, while Javonte Cooke remains out on a two-way G League assignment.
Sacramento will be without Domantas Sabonis (left knee, partial meniscus tear), Zach LaVine (left ankle sprain), Drew Eubanks (left thumb avulsion fracture), and several two-way G League players including Devin Carter, Daeqwon Plowden, and Isaiah Stevens. Doug McDermott is questionable with left knee soreness.
Portland relies on Deni Avdija, who leads the team with 25.8 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 6.3 assists per game. Shaedon Sharpe contributes 21.9 points and 4.6 rebounds, while Jerami Grant adds 20.0 points when available. Toumani Camara and Donovan Clingan bolster frontcourt depth with double-digit scoring and rebounding.
The Kings lean on DeMar DeRozan, averaging 18.2 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game. LaVine has been a key scorer with 20.2 points per outing, while Russell Westbrook provides 14.0 points and 7.4 assists. Dennis Schroder and Malik Monk offer scoring and playmaking off the bench.
Expect a fast-paced, high-scoring matchup similar to their first meeting this season, where Portland edged Sacramento 134-133 in overtime.
