The injury report for Sacramento Kings vs. Toronto Raptors is filled to the brim

The Kings and the Raptors are in two very different places right now. Sacramento is trying to secure a playoff spot in a tough Western Conference to try and escape potential Play-In Tournament matchups with the desperate Mavericks, Suns, Lakers, or Warriors. 

Toronto, meanwhile, is rebuilding. After trading away OG Anunoby and Pascal Siakam, the Raptors now have an interesting group of young players but are only in twelfth place in the East. 

For the Kings, today’s game is incredibly important. Every win matters in the Western Conference playoff race and the Kings have struggled to beat short-handed or bad teams all season long. Now is the time to fix that. 

Both teams have full injury reports

Unfortunately, the Kings will be without two key players in Trey Lyles and Kevin Huerter. Keon Ellis and Keegan Murray are among the players that will have to step up today as well as in the long term. 

On the bright side, Sasha Vezenkov, who missed quite some time with a grade three ankle sprain, was listed as questionable earlier today and might be nearing his return to the lineup. With Lyles out for extended time due to an MCL sprain, Vezenkov’s size and shooting ability would be great to have around. 

For the Raptors, things are looking even worse. Scottie Barnes, RJ Barrett, Chris Boucher, D.J. Carton, Jakob Poeltl, and Immanuel Quickley are all listed as out. That is pretty much their entire starting five. 

What does this mean for the Kings?

Even with two key players out, the Kings should easily win this game. It shouldn’t even get as close as Monday’s game against the Grizzlies. Memphis is losing a lot, but they at least had Desmond Bane and Jaren Jackson Jr., two young rising stars, playing.  

This two-game stretch against the Raptors and the Wizards is a chance for the Kings to add to their win total and support their standing in the playoff race. So, they have to take care of business and not play down to the level of the competition like we have seen them do so many times this season. 

That includes big games from their main guys—De’Aaron Fox, Domantas Sabonis, and Malik Monk—as well as solid contributions from Keegan Murray, Harrison Barnes, Keon Ellis, Davion Mitchell, and Chris Duarte. 

Ideally, the starters should be able to rest the last few minutes and mentally move on to the next game already.