The Kings will begin a long six-game road trip when they visit the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday at Crypto.com Arena.
The Kings (5-4) got some unfortunate news Tuesday when backup center Alex Len was diagnosed with a moderate high right ankle sprain, an injury that could keep him out for six to eight weeks or more. Len has been ruled out for Wednesday’s game against the Lakers along with forward Trey Lyles, who has yet to make his season debut due to a left calf strain suffered during the preseason.
The Lakers (6-5) will be facing the Kings on the second night of a back-to-back after beating the Memphis Grizzlies 134-107 on Tuesday in Los Angeles. The Lakers won’t have to submit an injury report until Wednesday. They will likely be without Jalen Hood-Schifino (patella), Jarred Vanderbilt (heel) and Gabe Vincent (knee), although all three appear to be nearing a return.
Anthony Davis (hip) was listed as probable against the Grizzlies on Tuesday and LeBron James (calf) was questionable, but both were cleared to play. James was a game-time decision. Davis finished with 19 points, 11 rebounds and five assists. James had 16 points, nine rebounds and six assists.
Scouting Sacramento
The Kings have won three in a row with victories over the Portland Trail Blazers, Oklahoma City Thunder and Cleveland Cavaliers.
Sacramento’s high-powered offense returned with the return of De’Aaron Fox in Monday’s 132-120 victory over the Cavaliers. The Kings were leading the NBA in scoring (125.3 ppg) when Fox suffered a right ankle sprain in an overtime win against the Lakers on Oct. 29, but they were 30th in the five games he missed, averaging just 102.6 points per game.
Fox is averaging 30.5 points, 3.8 rebounds, 6.0 assists and 1.3 steals this season while shooting 50% from the field and 36.7% from 3-point range. Fellow All-Star and All-NBA Third Team selection Domantas Sabonis is putting up 18.0 points, 12.4 rebounds and 7.3 assists.
The Kings are 1-3 on the road so far this season. They will need to reverse that trend as they set out on a long trip that will include games against the Lakers, San Antonio Spurs, Dallas Mavericks, New Orleans Pelicans (2) and Minnesota Timberwolves.
Scouting Los Angeles
The Lakers have also won three in a row with victories over the Phoenix Suns, Blazers and Grizzlies.
The Lakers are 15th in the NBA in scoring at 113.1 points per game. They are fifth in free-throw attempts (26.5) and sixth in field-goal percentage (.485), but they rank 19th in scoring defense, allowing 115.1 points per game, and 23rd in 3-point shooting (.340).
James, a four-time MVP, 19-time All-Star and the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, is averaging 25.2 points, 8.4 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 1.3 steals. Davis is averaging 23.9 points, 12.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 3.0 blocks. D’Angelo Russell is scoring 17.3 points per game, but he is shooting just 44.8% from the field and 28.6% from beyond the arc.
Kings at Lakers
When: 7 p.m.
Where: Crypto.com Arena
TV: ESPN, NBC Sports California
Radio: Sactown Sports 1140
Odds: Lakers -1.5
Over/under: 232.5
Injury report
Kings: OUT — Jordan Ford (G League); Colby Jones (G League); Alex Len (ankle); Trey Lyles (calf); Jalen Slawson (G League).
Lakers: Not yet submitted.
Upcoming schedule
Nov. 15 at Los Angeles Lakers
Nov. 17 at San Antonio Spurs
Nov. 19 at Dallas Mavericks
Nov. 20 at New Orleans Pelicans
Nov. 22 at New Orleans Pelicans
Jason Anderson is The Sacramento Bee’s Kings beat writer. He is a Sacramento native and a graduate of Fresno State, where he studied journalism and college basketball under the late Jerry Tarkanian.