The Sacramento Kings are spiraling, losing their last six games to fall to 13-19 (12th in the Western Conference). They are one of eight teams in the NBA this season to string together at least six straight losses (per Stathead).
The Kings will look to end this rough run tonight (Monday, December 30) against the Dallas Mavericks. But who will the Kings have available to them in this game? What about the Mavericks? Here is the full injury report ahead of the game.
Sacramento Kings Injury Report
Despite all their recent struggles, the Kings are pretty healthy right now (after some bad luck in that category to start the season). The player in the Kings' rotation who is on the injury report ahead of this game is their recent free agent signing, Jae Crowder.
Crowder is currently listed as questionable with lower back soreness. As a general rule, when a player is questionable, it usually means that they have about a 50/50 chance of playing in that game.
While we just referred to Crowder as a member of the Kings' rotation, that is a very loose use of the designation. He has logged a DNP-CD in the team's last five games. So, not having him in this game won't throw too much of a wrench in the Kings' plans.
Outside of Crowder, the only other Kings player on the injury report is their 2024 first round pick, Devin Carter. Carter has yet to suit up for his new team, as he's been rehabbing from offseason shoulder surgery. He will continue to be out tonight. However, it seems that Carter is getting closer and closer to making his Kings debut.
Sacramento Kings rookie Devin Carter is listed as OUT for Monday’s game vs. Dallas due to return to competition conditioning.
— Frankie Cartoscelli (@FCartoscelli3) December 30, 2024
Carter is getting close to making his NBA debut, but will need more time to get his conditioning in order.
The good news is that Carter looked good in his brief stint with the team's G-League affiliate, the Stockton Kings.
Today, Kings rookie guard Devin Carter was recalled and should soon make his NBA debut after a huge G League debut. https://t.co/edVkwVSFvf
— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpears) December 30, 2024
Dallas Mavericks Injury Report
As you can tell from the title of the post, the main headliner on the Mavericks' side of things is their All-NBA wunderkind, Luka Doncic. Unfortunately, the team will continue to be without Doncic, who has missed the team's last two games after suffering a calf strain on Christmas Day. According to ESPN's injury page, Doncic will be re-evaluated at the end of January.
Outside Doncic, the main guy to pay attention to is Derek Lively II. Like Crowder, Lively carries the questionable designation into Monday's game (hip). Dante Exum has yet to make his season debut as he is still recovering from the wrist surgery he had in early October. *
(*Sidebar: On Monday, Kyrie Irving and Naji Marshall were both added to the injury report. Neither of them will be available for this game on Monday.)
After this game, the Kings will kick off 2025 by hosting the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday, January 1.