The Brooklyn Nets visit the Sacramento Kings on Sunday night at Golden 1 Center in the first meeting between the teams this season. Both clubs enter the game near the bottom of their conferences, with Brooklyn at 17-53 and Sacramento at 18-53.
Injuries are a major storyline heading into the matchup, particularly for Sacramento, which listed eight players on its official injury report. Brooklyn also arrives with several rotation players unavailable.
For the Nets, leading scorer Michael Porter Jr. will not play because of a left hamstring strain. The forward averages 24.2 points, 7.1 rebounds and 3.0 assists while shooting 36.3 percent from three-point range.
Brooklyn will also rest starting center Nic Claxton, who averages 11.8 points, 7.1 rebounds and 3.8 assists while anchoring the team’s interior defense.
Noah Clowney remains out with a right wrist sprain. Clowney has started 56 games this season and contributes 12.5 points and 4.1 rebounds while spacing the floor with 2.0 made three-pointers per game.
Rookie guard Egor Demin is also unavailable due to left plantar fascia injury management. The 20-year-old has averaged 10.3 points and 3.3 assists while shooting 38.5 percent from three-point range.
Backup center Day’Ron Sharpe continues to recover from left thumb surgery. Terance Mann is listed as probable with an illness. Mann averages 7.3 points and 3.1 assists and could take on additional ball-handling duties if available.
Sacramento’s injury list includes several key starters. Zach LaVine is out following tendon repair on his right fifth finger. The veteran guard averages 19.2 points and shoots 39.0 percent from three-point range.
Domantas Sabonis is also sidelined after undergoing meniscus repair in his left knee. Sabonis averaged 15.8 points, 11.4 rebounds and 4.1 assists prior to the injury.
Keegan Murray will miss the game because of a left ankle sprain. The forward averages 14.0 points and 5.7 rebounds in 23 appearances this season.
Russell Westbrook is out with right foot soreness. Westbrook has averaged 15.2 points, 6.7 assists and 5.4 rebounds while starting 58 games for Sacramento.
De’Andre Hunter is also unavailable following retinal repair in his left eye. Hunter has appeared in two games for the Kings this season.
Backup center Drew Eubanks remains out after left thumb UCL repair. Guard Isaiah Stevens is also sidelined due to right ankle soreness.
Daeqwon Plowden is listed as questionable because of right foot soreness. The guard averages 9.1 points and 3.1 rebounds in a reserve role.
Patrick Baldwin Jr. is listed as available for Sacramento.
Both teams enter the contest after recent losses. Brooklyn dropped a 93-92 loss to the New York Knicks on March 20, while Sacramento fell 139-118 to the Philadelphia 76ers on March 19.
