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Sacramento Kings at Los Angeles Lakers

Thu Oct 87:30 PM PTESPN2Los Angeles, CA
By JR·2 min read
Kings(0-0)
Lakers(0-0)
Thursday 10/087:30 PM

TLDR: The Lakers ran the Kings out of their own building by 24 on Monday. Thursday's rematch in Los Angeles is Sacramento's first chance to show that was a short-handed night and not a preview of the season.

FRI OCT 9, 7:30 PMESPN2
Kings
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Lakers
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The Lakers beat the Kings 127-103 in Sacramento on Monday, and Sacramento played without Ben Simmons, Keegan Murray and Malik Monk. Thursday's rematch in Los Angeles is the likeliest spot for Simmons' preseason debut, while the Lakers first play Golden State on Tuesday and are managing day-to-day knocks to Austin Reaves and Walker Kessler. How many of the missing Kings are back, and how long Los Angeles plays its starters, will decide whether this one is competitive.

Sacramento Kings
  • Simmons, Murray and Monk could all return
  • Simmons healthy, reportedly among camp's best
  • Lost Monday's game in a single 2nd quarter
  • Lost by 24 at home 3 days earlier
  • Murray's absence undisclosed, status unclear
  • Down 26 at the half Monday
Los Angeles Lakers
  • Doncic scored 21 in a game decided by halftime
  • Led Sacramento 73-47 at the half Monday
  • Redick calls camp injuries nothing major
  • Reaves ankle, Kessler finger both day-to-day
  • Sexton and Kaluma listed out
  • Plays Warriors first, starter minutes uncertain

Monday got out of hand early. The Lakers led 73-47 at halftime in Sacramento, Luka Doncic had 21, and the second half was mostly the benches. The Kings played it without Ben Simmons, Keegan Murray and Malik Monk, so the Simmons debut the whole night was built around didn't happen. That leaves this one, Thursday, October 8 at crypto.com Arena, 7:30 PM PT, as the most likely spot for it.

According to Marc J. Spears, Simmons is expected to make his preseason debut either Thursday against the Lakers or Saturday against Golden State. The Kings say he is healthy and has had as strong a camp as anyone on the roster, and they are bringing him along slowly anyway. Monk sat Monday for rest and Simmons for a reason the team said wasn't injury-related, so both are about managing workload. Murray's absence is listed as undisclosed, and that is the one to watch. No board has been posted for this game yet.

The Lakers have a game first. They are at Chase Center against the Warriors on Tuesday, the 4th straight year they've played Golden State there in the preseason, and that night will shape the roster Los Angeles brings home. JJ Redick called the camp injuries "nothing major": Austin Reaves tweaked an ankle and Walker Kessler jammed a finger on the backboard, and both are day-to-day. Collin Sexton and Arthur Kaluma were listed as out.

For Sacramento the real problem Monday was the 2nd quarter. The Lakers scored 19 more points than the Kings in those 12 minutes, and that ended the game. A healthy Murray and Monk return fixes some of the shot-making and spacing that disappeared, and Simmons is meant to fix the ball movement. The Kings could have all 3 back on Thursday. Exactly how many will play is the main question of this game.

For the Lakers, it's mostly about Doncic and the new pieces getting minutes together without anyone getting hurt. Reaves' ankle and how much Redick plays his starters on Tuesday will decide how much of the first unit Sacramento faces. It's preseason, so treat the score with caution. Still, a Kings team that lost by 24 at home will want this one to look different, and Sacramento heads to Golden State on Saturday right after.

Kings Get Their Rematch With the Lakers, Maybe With Ben Simmons | Polymarket Odds · Barstool Bush