The Sacramento Kings will be on the road Monday night as they take on the Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Sacramento comes into this matchup looking to turn things around after a tough stretch, having lost seven of their last 10 games. Their most recent outing resulted in a blowout loss to the Orlando Magic on Saturday, further extending their struggles. As a result, the Kings have slipped to 10th place in the Western Conference standings, clinging to the final Play-In spot with just a one-and-a-half-game lead over the Phoenix Suns. With the regular season winding down, every game becomes crucial for Sacramento as they fight to maintain their postseason hopes. They will face a significant challenge against an Indiana team that has been playing well, winning seven of their last 10 contests.
Unfortunately for Sacramento, they will be without two key contributors for this game, as both Devin Carter and Jake LaRavia have been ruled out. Carter is dealing with a right shoulder contusion sustained during Saturday’s loss to Orlando, adding to his recent injury woes after missing time last week due to illness. With Carter sidelined once again, Markelle Fultz is expected to take on a bigger role off the bench. Meanwhile, LaRavia is suffering from a bone contusion in his left thumb, which will keep him out for at least three more games. In his absence, Trey Lyles is likely to see increased minutes and an expanded role in the rotation.
The Pacers will also be missing some key players of their own, as Bennedict Mathurin and Isaiah Jackson have both been ruled out. Mathurin is set to miss his second consecutive game due to left calf soreness, paving the way for Ben Sheppard to take on a larger role. Jackson, meanwhile, has been out since early in the season after suffering a torn Achilles, leaving the Pacers without one of their key frontcourt pieces. Despite these absences, Indiana remains a dangerous team, and the Kings will need a strong performance to come away with a win.
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