Is De’Aaron Fox Playing Tonight Against New Orleans? Kings vs Pelicans Injury Report, Depth Chart and More Explored

The Kings have a solid roster this season, with a starting five capable of putting up impressive numbers. However, their journey so far hasn’t been as smooth as expected. Still, they’re not giving up just yet. With De’Aaron Fox in top form averaging 27 PPG, they can maintain their rhythm and score when needed, while Domantas Sabonis offers valuable veteran support.

Although the Kings don’t boast elite numbers yet, holding a 12-13 record, they’ve managed to secure victories in their last two games. But now, a great opportunity has popped up to make it three in a row. Yes, their match up with the Pelicans on Thursday, a team struggling with a 5-20 record and a roster heavily impacted by injuries. So, let’s see who will miss the game.

Pelicans injury report

The Pelicans are clearly in deep water, with a list of injured players that nearly outnumbers half of the healthy ones on the squad. At the top of that list is Zion Williamson, sidelined because of a hamstring strain. The NOP star has played just six games this season and has been absent ever since. According to a recent update from Shams Charania, “Zion Williamson has been out for about a month and he’s not close to coming back.” Joining him on the Pelicans’ injury report is Jose Alvarado, who suffered a left hamstring strain early last month. As per the ESPN insider, the guard is expected to be out for at least six weeks, but no official return date has been confirmed yet.

Just when it seemed things couldn’t get any worse, Brandon Ingram too registered his name on the injury report. The 27-year-old sprained his left ankle on Saturday night against the Thunder and the franchise announced the following day that he would be out for an indefinite period. Jordan Hawkins too has been sidelined for Thursday’s game after being diagnosed with a lumbar spine annular fissure. Another player ruled out for the matchup is Karlo Matkovic because of his low back spasms.

Meanwhile, the franchise will monitor Javonte Green before making a final decision. For now, he remains questionable. Green has been dealing with soreness in his left ankle but could still play that night. Fortunately, Daniel Theis has received the green signal from the medical team after missing three games for his neck spasms.

Kings injury report

Unlike the Pelicans, the Kings have a shorter injury list, with Trey Lyles and Devin Carter listed as out. The Canadian center suffered a grade 1 right calf strain late last month during the OKC game and is expected to need 3-4 weeks before the team re-evaluates his condition. As for Carter, he hasn’t started his rookie season because of his torn left labrum sustained during a pre-draft workout. The combo guard recently underwent successful surgery to repair the injury but is not yet fit to join the squad.

Now that we know which players to not expect at the Smoothie King Center, let’s take a look at who could be suiting up for the game night.

Depth Chart & Regular Season H2H as De’Aaron Fox and Co. Prepare to Face the Pelicans

Pelicans Depth chart

Kings Depth chart

In the last two seasons, the Pelicans have clearly had the upper hand, holding a 6-2 record against the Kings. Even historically, they’ve been dominant, winning 44 games compared to Sacramento’s 33. However, this time around, the New Orleans side has a thinner roster, which could end their five-game winning streak against the Kings in the regular season.

The Kings have a strong starting five, with De’Aaron Fox and DeMar DeRozan leading the offense, while Domantas Sabonis excels at balancing both ends of the court. On the flip side, CJ McCollum and Dejounte Murray have been standout performers for the Pelicans. But will their efforts be enough to stop the Kings? Tune in at 8 PM ET to find out.