Kings-Wizards Injury Report: Huerter, Bagley, Avdija Status
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With the NBA season coming to a close, there are some important races in a closely-fought Western Conference. The Sacramento Kings currently sit in 6th place, but are only half a game ahead of the Phoenix Suns and Dallas Mavericks. Thursday night, the Kings have a chance to extend their lead in playoff safety with a game against the Washington Wizards, who have 11 wins this season and are already eliminated from the playoffs.
The Kings narrowly won the first game this season against the Wizards 143-131, with De'Aaron Fox dropping a game-high 30 points and Domantas Sabonis early in his triple-double rampage this season.
The Wizards look different this time around, as they have acquired two former Kings since the trade deadline - though they may be out due to injury.
Sacramento Kings
G Kevin Huerter - QUESTIONABLE (left shoulder)
F Sasha Vezenkov - QUESTIONABLE (ankle)
F Trey Lyles - OUT (ankle)
Washington Wizards
F Deni Avdija - QUESTIONABLE (knee)
F Richaun Holmes - QUESTIONABLE (illness)
F/C Marvin Bagley III - OUT (back)
F Eugene Omoruyi - OUT (ankle)
G Landry Shamet - OUT (calf)
G Tyus Jones - OUT (back)
G Bilal Coulibaly - OUT (wrist)
F Isaiah Livers - OUT (hip)
Kings' Huerter went down hard in the first quarter against the Memphis Grizzlies and remained out the rest of that game and the next. What initially looked like a season-ending wrist injury turned out to be a much less severe shoulder dislocation, and he may return as soon as Thursday night.
Keon Ellis started in Huerter's place against the Toronto Raptors and has been on a tear. Ellis has made defensive headlines for holding his opponents to the lowest FG% in the league since the All-Star Break as a guard. He also posted two back-to-back games where he had 5 blocks against the Grizzlies and 4 steals against the Raptors. The Kings are also 7-0 when Ellis starts this season and will look to continue that in a routine win on Thursday.
The Wizards have a long injury report for a rough season and are looking to break a five-game losing streak. Richaun Holmes and Marvin Bagley III are familiar faces to Sacramento, and both were acquired this season before the trade deadline by the Wizards.
While this should be an easy win for Sacramento, a loss to the Wizards would not shock any fans who have watched the Kings this season. Sacramento has earned the nickname "weirdest team in the NBA" this season due to their dominant performances against NBA powerhouses followed by struggling efforts against disadvantaged teams. All that will be put to the test Thursday night in a crucial game for playoff positioning.
The game is set to tip off at 4 p.m. PT/7 p.m. ET.
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