The Sacramento Kings will have another top starter out of the lineup when they face three-time MVP Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets in an NBA Cup consolation game Thursday at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento.
Zach LaVine has been ruled out due to right thumb soreness. Domantas Sabonis is still sidelined with a partial meniscus tear in his left knee. Dennis Schroder is listed as doubtful after missing the past six games with a right hip flexor strain.
The Nuggets are also missing a couple of key starters. Aaron Gordon will miss his ninth consecutive game with a right hamstring strain. Christian Braun will miss his 13th consecutive game with a left ankle sprain.
The Kings (6-18) are coming off a 116-105 loss to the Indiana Pacers. They have lost five of their last six and 13 of 15 to fall to 13th in the Western Conference. They are tied for the third-worst record in the NBA.
The Nuggets (17-6) have won three in a row, all on the road, with victories over the Pacers, Atlanta Hawks and Charlotte Hornets. They are 2-1 against the Kings this season, winning the first two games before losing the third.
Here are three keys to Thursday’s game.
LaVine’s absence
Kings coach Doug Christie will have to make a lineup decision with LaVine out due to injury.
The Kings could start Malik Monk, Keon Ellis or rookie first-round draft pick Nique Clifford in place of LaVine at shooting guard. Christie could also consider going to a bigger lineup with DeRozan at shooting guard, Keegan Murray at small forward and Precious Achiuwa at power forward.
Whatever the Kings do, they will miss LaVine’s shooting and scoring. The two-time All-Star is averaging 20.6 points, 3.1 rebounds and 2.3 assists while shooting 48.6% from the field and 38.9% from 3-point range.
The Joker
The Kings know all too well what kind of challenge Jokic presents. This time they will have to face him with rookie center Maxime Raynaud starting in place of Sabonis.
Jokic has averaged 37.7 points per game against Sacramento this season. He had 44 points and 13 rebounds in a 128-123 loss to the Kings on Nov. 22 in Denver.
Jokic is averaging 29.2 points, 12.3 rebounds and 11.0 assists this season. He is shooting 61.2% from the field and 41.4% from 3-point range.
More Max
Raynaud has responded well since taking on a bigger role with Sabonis sidelined due to injury.
Over the past five games, Raynaud has averaged 15.6 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.0 blocks while shooting 59.6% from the field and 42.9% from long distance.
Nuggets at Kings
When: 7 p.m.
Where: Golden 1 Center
TV: NBC Sports California
Radio: Sactown Sports 1140
Odds: Nuggets -9.5
Over/under: 238.5
Injury report
Nuggets: OUT — Tamar Bates (G League); Christian Braun (ankle); Aaron Gordon (hamstring); DaRon Holmes II (G League); Julian Strawther (back).
Kings: DOUBTFUL — Dennis Schroder (hip). OUT — Dylan Cardwell (G League); Zach LaVine (thumb); Daeqwon Plowden (G League); Domantas Sabonis (knee); Isaiah Stevens (G League).
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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.
