Tanking will be a hot topic and NBA draft lottery odds will be on the line when the Kings face the Indiana Pacers in a pivotal battle for worst place on Tuesday at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento.
Only a half-game separates the Kings and Pacers in a race to the bottom of the NBA standings as teams jockey for position in the 2026 NBA draft, which is expected to be one of the best in recent memory.
The Kings (15-50) are coming off a surprising 126-110 victory over the Chicago Bulls. Malik Monk scored a season-high 30 points, Russell Westbrook recorded his 208th career triple-double and Maxime Raynaud posted a double-double to help the Kings win despite the absences of several key players.
Zach LaVine (finger), Domantas Sabonis (knee), Keegan Murray (ankle), De’Andre Hunter (eye) and Dylan Cardwell (ankle) are out with injuries. DeMar DeRozan is expected to return to the lineup Tuesday after missing Sunday’s game due to illness.
The Pacers (15-49) have lost nine in a row and 13 of their last 15. They lost the first three games of their current four-game road trip by an average of 18.0 points.
Indiana submitted a lengthy injury report to the league ahead of Tuesday’s game against the Kings.
Jarace Walker (ankle) is listed as probable. Taleon Peter (G League), Jalen Slawson (G League) and Ethan Thompson (G League) are questionable. Andrew Nembhardt (back) is considered doubtful. Johnny Furphy (ACL), Tyrese Haliburton (Achilles), T.J. McConnell (hamstring), Pascal Siakam (knee) and Ivica Zubac (ankle) have been ruled out.
Pacers at Kings
When: 7 p.m.
Where: Golden 1 Center
TV: NBC Sports California
Radio: Sactown Sports 1140
Odds: Kings -2.5
Over/under: 237.5
Injury report
Pacers: PROBABLE — Jarace Walker (ankle). QUESTIONABLE — Taleon Peter (G League); Jalen Slawson (G League); Ethan Thompson (G League). DOUBTFUL — Andrew Nembhardt (back). OUT — Johnny Furphy (ACL); Tyrese Haliburton (Achilles); T.J. McConnell (hamstring); Pascal Siakam (knee); Ivica Zubac (ankle).
Kings: OUT – Dylan Cardwell (ankle); De’Andre Hunter (eye); Zach LaVine (finger); Keegan Murray (ankle); Domantas Sabonis (knee); Isaiah Stevens (G League).
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Jason Anderson is The Sacramento Bee’s Kings beat writer. He is a Sacramento native and a graduate of Fresno State, where he studied journalism and college basketball under the late Jerry Tarkanian.