Rookie center Maxime Raynaud’s injury and Zach LaVine trade rumors will be big focal points as the Kings prepare to play the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento.
With the Feb. 5 NBA trade deadline drawing near, the Bucks have reportedly expressed significant interest in LaVine as they look to add offensive firepower in support of two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo. LaVine has missed the past nine games with a left ankle sprain, but he has been upgraded to questionable for Sunday’s game against the Bucks.
The Kings (8-27) have lost four in a row and 14 of 17 after suffering a 129-102 loss to the Phoenix Suns on Friday. They have the worst point differential in the NBA after losing their last four games by an average of 26.5 points.
The Kings are 14th in the Western Conference. They have the second-worst record in the West and the third-worst record in the NBA ahead of the Indiana Pacers (6-29) and New Orleans Pelicans (8-28).
The Bucks (15-20) have won three of their last four games after beating the Charlotte Hornets 122-121 on Friday. They are 11th in the Eastern Conference, a 1 ½ games out of the final play-in spot.
Here are three keys to Sunday’s game.
Raynaud’s injury
There was a scary moment late in the fourth quarter of Friday’s game against the Suns when Raynaud went down with an injury. Raynaud clutched his left knee while writhing in pain before limping off the floor with assistance from head athletic trainer Joel Noland.
Raynaud underwent an MRI on Saturday in Sacramento which showed no structural damage, a league source told The Sacramento Bee. Raynaud is expected to be available for Sunday’s game. The 7-foot-1 center told The Bee he thought he had avoided serious injury following the game in Phoenix.
“I’ll be fine,” Raynaud said. “It was just scary.”
Raynaud has started the past 11 games with All-NBA center Domantas Sabonis sidelined due to a partially torn meniscus in his left knee. Over that stretch, Raynaud has averaged 14.0 points and 9.1 rebounds while shooting 55.8% from the field and 37.5% from 3-point range.
Guarding Giannis
Antetokounmpo will be a matchup problem for Sacramento if he plays in Sunday’s game.
The nine-time All-Star is averaging 29.0 points, 10.0 rebounds and 5.7 assists in his 13th NBA season. He is shooting 63.7% from the field and 39.3% from 3-point range.
Antetokounmpo recently returned after missing eight games with a calf injury. He had 30 points and 10 rebounds in Friday’s win over the Charlotte Hornets. He put up 33 points and 15 rebounds in Wednesday’s win over the Washington Wizards.
LaVine’s status
LaVine hasn’t played since injuring his ankle in a Nov. 14 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
If he returns to the starting lineup, the Kings will likely move DeMar DeRozan back to small forward with Keegan Murray shifting back to the power forward spot.
LaVine has gone through ups and downs this season. He is averaging 20.2 points while shooting 48.7% from the field and 38.5% from 3-point range.
Bucks at Kings
When: 6 p.m.
Where: Golden 1 Center
TV: NBC Sports California
Radio: Sactown Sports 1140
Odds: Bucks -6.5
Over/under: 228.5
Injury report
Bucks: PROBABLE — Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf). QUESTIONABLE — Gary Harris (neck). OUT — Alex Antetokounmpo (G League); Pete Nance (G League); Taurean Prince (neck); Mark Sears (G League).
Kings: QUESTIONABLE — Zach LaVine (ankle). OUT — Dylan Cardwell (G League); Daeqwon Plowden (G League); Domantas Sabonis (knee); Isaiah Stevens (G League).
Related Stories from Sacramento Bee
Jason Anderson
The Sacramento Bee
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.
