The Sacramento Kings and the Los Angeles Clippers continue their four-game regular-season series after splitting their first two games in 2022-23.
Latest Updates Injury for Clippers vs. Kings game
When the Los Angeles Clippers play the Sacramento Kings at home for the first time since the All-Star break on Friday, all eyes will be on their big roster experiment.
The first half of the season for the Los Angeles Clippers (33-28, 31-30 ATS) ended with wins over the Golden State Warriors (134-124 at home) and the Phoenix Suns (116-107 on the road).
They were the No. 4 seed in the West before the All-Star break. They were only half a game ahead of the No. 5 Phoenix Suns and two games ahead of the No. 7 New Orleans Pelicans.
- Will Westbrook, George, and Leonard all play together in this game?
After making a number of trades before the NBA trade deadline, the Clippers made another big move this week when they signed nine-time All-Star Russell Westbrook after he was kicked off the Los Angeles Lakers without a proper send-off.
At the trade deadline, the Lakers sent Westbrook to the Jazz. In Utah, the Jazz bought out his contract and let him go. Paul George and Marcus Morris Sr. asked publicly for Westbrook to join the Clippers, which led to his move there.
The Clippers started the season with hopes of making the NBA Finals, but George and Kawhi Leonard both got hurt and had to work through their pain. Both are healthy now, and they have to figure out how to use their skills to help the mysterious Westbrook.
Injury Reports Clippers:
- Ivica Zubac (Calf) – Out
Andrew Greif of the Los Angeles Times says that Zubac will not be able to play against the Kings on Friday because he has strained his right calf.
Zubac’s calf injury will keep him out of action for the first time since December 17. This should give Mason Plumlee a chance to start in Zubac’s place. Zubac averaged 11.4 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks in 30.1 minutes over his last five games. Sunday in Denver will be his next chance to play.
The Kings are an example of how a team can change its roster and still become a winner.
This year, Sacramento didn’t make a big trade before the deadline, but they did last year when they sent Tyrese Haliburton and Buddy Hield to the Indiana Pacers for Domantas Sabonis.
Sabonis went to the All-Star Game again this year. He averaged 18.8 points per game and had the most rebounds in the NBA at 12.4. Haliburton was an All-Star for the Pacers, which was a nice sign that the trade helped both teams.
The Kings began their schedule after the All-Star break in third place in the Western Conference. On Thursday, the first night of a back-to-back, they beat the visiting Portland Trail Blazers 133-116. De’Aaron Fox scored 31 points, and Sabonis had a triple-double with 18 points, 18 rebounds, and 10 assists.
Malik Monk missed two games before the break because of an ankle injury. When he came back, he scored 15 points in 21 minutes for Sacramento.
Since January, when they won six straight games, the Kings are now 7-7.
The Kings and Clippers play each other twice in the span of eight days. They play each other again in Sacramento on March 3. They’ve already met twice this season and tied each time.
Leonard didn’t play in either of the Clippers’ last two games against the Kings, and neither did George when Sacramento won on December 3.
Injury Reports Kings:
- KZ Okpala (Knee) – Out
