After an 0-2 start, the Sacramento Kings are winners of three straight and quickly climbing up the Western Conference standings (they are now currently eighth). On Saturday, the team will have a chance to extend their hot streak against the Toronto Raptors (1-5).
As the parenthetical suggests, this is a great opportunity for the team to add another victory. But who will they have available? Who will be missing for the Raptors? In this post, we answer all of that.
Kevin Huerter Injury Update
Kevin Huerter is no stranger to the team injury report. Last season, the sharpshooting wing missed the team's final 17 games (15 regular season, two play-in) with a shoulder injury. This injury also kept him out for the entirety of the 2024-25 preseason.
Fortunately, he was able to return to the team in time for their regular season opener, and after a rocky first game back, Huerter has been getting back to his impactful ways. Unfortunately, Huerter is now back on the injury sheet.
Early Saturday afternoon, it was announced that Huerter will not play against the Raptors. The good news is that he doesn't have any structural damage. He is just suffering from an illness.
Kings in Toronto tonight but will be without Kevin Huerter - out with an illness.
— Sean Cunningham (@SeanCunningham) November 2, 2024
Outside of Huerter, the Kings will continue to be without their 2024 first round pick, Devin Carter (shoulder), and their free agent acquisition, Orlando Robinson (MCL).
Toronto Raptors Injury Report
Unlike us (*knocks wood*), the Raptors haven't been super healthy. As it stands, the Raptors are missing four players that factor heavily into their normal rotation. Scottie Barnes (orbital fracture), Immanuel Quickley (pelvis), Bruce Brown (knee), and Kelly Olynyk (back) will all be out for tonight's battle.
Quickley and Brown seem more like day-to-day cases. Meanwhile, Barnes and Olynyk are still expected to be out for multiple more weeks.
Barnes and Quickley are especially big blows, as the two-man tandem is widely considered to be the team's two best players. Being without them will put the Raptors' already stagnant offense (24th in offensive rating in 2023-24) at a massive disadvantage.
After tonight's game, the Kings will travel to South Beach to play coaching genius Erik Spoelstra and the Miami Heat on Monday, November 4.