The Sacramento Kings and Houston Rockets enter Wednesday night’s meeting at Toyota Center dealing with significant injuries that could shape the outcome.
Sacramento will be without Domantas Sabonis (left knee; meniscus repair) and Zach LaVine (right fifth finger; tendon repair), two of its primary offensive options. Sabonis is averaging 15.8 points, 11.4 rebounds and 4.1 assists in 19 games, while LaVine has posted 19.2 points per contest on 47.9% shooting.
De’Andre Hunter (left eye; retinal repair) and Dylan Cardwell (left ankle; sprain) are also out. Isaiah Stevens remains away on a G League two-way assignment, and Devin Carter is listed as questionable with low back soreness.
LaVine’s absence further strains a roster that ranks 15th in the Western Conference at 12-46.
Houston also enters short-handed. Fred VanVleet is out following right knee ACL repair, and Amen Thompson is sidelined with left quadricep tendinitis. Thompson averages 17.4 points, 7.6 rebounds and 5.3 assists, making his absence significant on both ends.
Steven Adams (left ankle surgery), Jae’Sean Tate (right knee sprain) and Tristen Newton (G League two-way) are also unavailable.
Despite the injuries, the Rockets sit fourth in the Western Conference at 34-21 and average 114.5 points per game.
Kevin Durant leads Houston with 25.9 points per game on 50.7% shooting, while Alperen Sengun adds 20.3 points and 9.1 rebounds. Jabari Smith Jr. contributes 15.6 points and 7.0 boards, giving the Rockets frontcourt stability even without Adams.
The teams have split three meetings this season. Houston won 121-95 on Dec. 3, while Sacramento claimed a 125-124 overtime victory on Dec. 21 and a 111-98 win on Jan. 11.
The Kings are coming off a 123-114 road win over Memphis after a 139-122 loss to San Antonio. The Rockets defeated Utah 125-105 in their most recent outing following a 108-106 loss to New York.
