Kings vs. Bucks gameday: Kevin Huerter status updates, injury news and scouting reports – Sacramento Bee
Another tough road game awaits the Kings when they face the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday at Fiserv Forum.
The Kings (23-15) will be making their fourth stop on a five-game road trip after suffering a 112-93 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday. This will be their fourth game in six nights since opening the trip with back-to-back wins over the Detroit Pistons and Charlotte Hornets on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The Bucks (27-12) will face the Kings on the second night of a back-to-back after beating the Golden State Warriors 129-118 on Saturday. Two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo logged 37 minutes, posting 33 points, nine rebounds and five assists. Damian Lillard played 38 minutes, finishing with 27 points, six rebounds and seven assists.
The Kings are listing Kevin Huerter as questionable due to a left ankle sprain. Huerter left Wednesday’s game against the Hornets after injuring the ankle on the opening possession. He was subsequently ruled out for Friday’s game in Philadelphia.
The Bucks won’t submit an injury report until Sunday because they played Saturday night. The only player they were missing against the Warriors was Jae Crowder, who is recovering from left adductor surgery.
Scouting Sacramento
Sacramento is fifth in the Western Conference, two games behind the Los Angeles Clippers for the No. 4 seed and four games behind the conference-leading Minnesota Timberwolves. The Kings had won four of five before losing to the 76ers.
De’Aaron Fox continues to lead the team in scoring. His averages have dipped to 27.7 points, 4.3 rebounds and 5.8 assists due some recent struggles following a meteoric start to the season. Domantas Sabonis has taken his production to even higher levels in recent weeks, averaging 21.8 points, 15.0 rebounds and 8.8 assists with four triple-doubles over the past eight games. Keegan Murray continues to impress with his all-around game, averaging 16.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.2 steals while shooting 46.5% from the field and 37.4% from 3-point range.
Sacramento needs more consistency from Harrison Barnes, who averaged 8.0 points and 2.0 rebounds over the past seven games, even while shooting 48.3% from 3-point range on 4.1 attempts per game. The same is true for Huerter, who is averaging 5.0 points in January despite scoring 17 points against the New Orleans Pelicans on Jan. 7. He is shooting 15% from 3-point range this month, down from 39.6% in November and 31.6% in December.
Scouting Milwaukee
Milwaukee is second in the Eastern Conference, three games behind the Boston Celtics for the No. 1 seed. The Bucks are coming off back-to-back wins over the Boston Celtics and Warriors, but before that they lost four of five, including a loss to the Houston Rockets on a night when Antetokounmpo had 48 points and 17 rebounds.
Antetokounmpo continues to be one of the league’s preeminent forces, averaging 31.2 points, 11.5 rebounds, 5.9 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.2 blocks. Lillard is averaging 25.0 points, 4.3 rebounds and 6.8 assists in his first season with the Bucks.
Khris Middleton (14.4 ppg), Brook Lopez (12.7 ppg), Bobby Portis (12.4 ppg) and Malik Beasley (11.6 ppg) are also scoring in double figures for Milwaukee.
Status updates
▪ The Bucks have ruled Middleton out due to right knee injury management.
▪ The Kings have upgraded Huerter to available.
▪ Antetokounmpo is dealing with a right shoulder contusion, but he has been cleared to play against the Kings.
Kings at Bucks
When: 4 p.m.
Where: Fiserv Forum
TV: NBC Sports California
Radio: Sactown Sports 1140
Odds: Bucks -3.5
Over/under: 245.5
Injury report
Kings: QUESTIONABLE — Kevin Huerter (ankle). OUT — Jordan Ford (G League); Jalen Slawson (G League).
Bucks: OUT — Jae Crowder (adductor); Chris Livingston (non-COVID illness); Khris Middleton (knee).
Upcoming schedule
Jan. 14 at Milwaukee Bucks
Jan. 16 at Phoenix Suns
Jan. 18 vs. Indiana Pacers
Jan. 22 vs. Atlanta Hawks
Jan. 25 at Golden State Warriors
This story was originally published January 14, 2024, 4:00 AM.
