With Murray sidelined to start the season, the Kings turned to rookie Nique Clifford to fill the void. Clifford didn’t light up the scoreboard—finishing with just two points—but he grabbed eight rebounds and posted a positive plus/minus in his debut. Unfortunately, an MRI afterward revealed a right hamstring strain, sidelining him for at least a week before a possible return on November 1.
Without Clifford and Murray, Sacramento rolled out an unusual lineup on October 28 against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Alongside the usual trio of DeRozan, LaVine, and Domantas Sabonis, the Kings started guards Dennis Schröder—who’s opened every game this season—and Russell Westbrook. Despite outrebounding the Thunder, Sacramento surrendered 52 points in the paint.Murray, by far the Kings’ best 3-and-D player, is a massive loss for a team stacked with interior-oriented offensive stalwarts with defensive liabilities. At 6-foot-8 and 225 pounds, he’s Sacramento’s most versatile defender, one who’d likely draw the assignment of slowing down ascending sophomore Matas Buzelis.Yet the two teams’ early-season success and playstyles couldn’t be more different. For the Kings, things have been out of sync from the start. Just days before signing his five-year, $140 million extension, forward Keegan Murray tore the ulnar collateral ligament in his left thumb, underwent surgery, and is expected to be reevaluated in four to six weeks.
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Bulls vs Kings injury report: Coby White, Keegan Murray, Nique Clifford, and more
The Kings will be without two key players in LaVine’s return to the United Center.
By
Austin McGee
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9 hours ago
Chicago Bulls v Sacramento Kings
Chicago Bulls v Sacramento Kings | Lachlan Cunningham/GettyImages
From the outside looking in, the Chicago Bulls and Sacramento Kings don’t appear all that different. Sacramento features three former Bulls—DeMar DeRozan, Doug McDermott, and Zach LaVine—two of whom, both over 30, are averaging more than 37 minutes per game. Chicago, meanwhile, rosters one former King, Kevin Huerter, acquired last season in the LaVine trade.Yet the two teams’ early-season success and playstyles couldn’t be more different. For the Kings, things have been out of sync from the start. Just days before signing his five-year, $140 million extension, forward Keegan Murray tore the ulnar collateral ligament in his left thumb, underwent surgery, and is expected to be reevaluated in four to six weeks.
