Zach LaVine is expected to return to the lineup when the Kings visit the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday at Target Center in Minneapolis, but Sacramento’s injury woes continue with no end in sight.
The Timberwolves could be missing Anthony Edwards, who is questionable due to right foot soreness. Bones Hyland is questionable with a right knee contusion. Mike Conley is out with right Achilles tendinopathy.
The Kings announced Saturday that backup center Drew Eubanks has been diagnosed with an avulsion fracture in his left thumb. He will be reevaluated in three weeks.
Domantas Sabonis is still out with a partially torn meniscus in his left knee. Keon Ellis is questionable for Sunday’s game due to right wrist soreness. Dennis Schroder is listed as doubtful after missing the past seven games with a right hip flexor strain.
Schroder’s prolonged absence has led to speculation that the Kings might be holding him out in anticipation of a trade. Schroder, who was acquired over the summer in a sign-and-trade deal with the Detroit Pistons, will become trade eligible on Dec. 15.
The Kings (6-19) have lost 14 of their last 17 games. They are tied for the second-worst record in the Western Conference and the NBA with a .240 winning percentage.
The Timberwolves (16-9) are coming off a 127-120 victory over the Golden State Warriors. They are sixth in the West after winning six of their last seven games.
Here are three keys to Sunday’s game.
Sacramento’s injuries
The Kings will continue to start rookie second-round draft pick Maxime Raynaud at center with Sabonis and Eubanks out due to injuries. Raynaud has played well since stepping into a larger role due to the absence of Sabonis, averaging 15.5 points and 7.2 rebounds over the past six games.
Sacramento will have to bring veteran forward Dario Saric or undrafted rookie two-way player Dylan Cardwell off the bench behind Raynaud. Saric and Cardwell have both appeared in three games. Both are averaging 1.7 points and 1.7 rebounds.
Rookie first-round draft pick Nique Clifford has been getting more minutes with Schroder out. Over the past five games, Clifford has averaged 6.2 points and 2.6 rebounds while shooting 45.2% from the field and 25% from 3-point range in 19.2 points per game.
Minnesota’s injuries
Edwards could miss his second game in a row after being held out of Friday’s win over the Warriors because of foot soreness.
Edwards is averaging 28.7 points, 4.9 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.2 steals. He is shooting 50% from the field and 41.6% from 3-point range. Hyland started in place of Edwards against Golden State, but his status is in doubt due to a knee bruise.
Minnesota’s size
Whether Edwards plays or not, the Kings will have to deal with Minnesota’s size on the frontline. The Timberwolves start 7-foot-1, 258-pound center and Rudy Gobert at center with 6-9, 250-pound Julius Randle at power forward.
Randle averages 23.0 points, 7.2 rebounds and 6.0 assists. Gobert is averaging 11.6 points, 10.2 rebounds and 1.4 blocked shots.
Kings at Timberwolves
When: 4 p.m.
Where: Target Center
TV: NBC Sports California
Radio: Sactown Sports 1140
Odds: Timberwolves -11.5
Over/under: 231.5
Injury report
Kings: QUESTIONABLE — Keon Ellis (wrist). DOUBTFUL — Dennis Schroder (hip). OUT — Drew Eubanks (thumb); Daeqwon Plowden (G League); Domantas Sabonis (knee); Isaiah Stevens (G League).
Timberwolves: QUESTIONABLE — Anthony Edwards (foot); Bones Hyland (knee). OUT — Joan Beringer (G League); Mike Conley (Achilles); Enrique Freeman (G League); Rocco Zikarsky (G League).
This story was originally published December 14, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
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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.
