Sactown has been hit hard by injuries to start the 2024-25 season, leaving key players sidelined. On Wednesday, the Kings returned to practice, gearing up for Thursday’s showdown with the Los Angeles Lakers. Updates on the injured duo surfaced as Sacramento, now 13-14, looks to claw its way back to a .500 record. Honestly, the Kings could use some good news right about now—missing this much firepower is no joke.

Keegan Murray was added to the injury report late on Monday because of left ankle soreness, marking the first time this season he missed a game. He didn’t practice on Wednesday, and the Kings will update his status later, closer to their game against the Lakers.

Murray has earned the nickname “Iron Man” for his durability, missing just eight games throughout his entire career. As for Domantas Sabonis, he was also absent from Wednesday’s practice, leaving his availability for Thursday up in the air.

The three-time All-Star hopes to play, but just because he missed the non-contact session doesn’t mean he’s definitely out against LA. Both Murray and Sabonis have been listed as questionable according to Sean Cunningham of Fox40 news.

If the Sabonis is sidelined, even for just one game, it could seriously hurt the Kings. The star big man has been a powerhouse this season, putting up 21.5 points, 13.1 rebounds, and 6.0 assists per game in 25 appearances. Losing him would leave a major gap on both ends of the floor. The Kings rely on his all-around game, and without him, they’d be in a tough spot.

He has become one of the most well-rounded players in the league. He’s not just your typical big man; his playmaking skills set him apart. For Sactown, he’s an additional creator, adding more options on the floor.

Sabonis is a better “playmaker” than Jokic says Mike Brown, but it didn’t translate on court recently…

Domantas Sabonis put on another impressive show, but it wasn’t quite enough for the Kings in their 130-129 loss to the Nuggets on Monday. Sacramento struggled early, and despite Sabonis’ monster performance, they couldn’t make up the ground.

Sabonis posted 28 points, 14 rebounds, and 6 assists, leading five Kings players in double figures. De’Aaron Fox also had a standout game, scoring 29 points and adding 7 assists.

Coach Mike Brown praised Sabonis’ playmaking, specifically his ability to quickly distribute the ball and his sharp court vision. “I’m not saying Domas is better than Jokic or anything like that,” Brown said to ESPN, adding, “but, to me, that’s why Domas is a better playmaker than Jokic.” It’s high praise, especially when you consider how much of a matchup this was for the two big men.

In their head-to-head battle, Domantas Sabonis didn’t shy away from Nikola Jokic. He went straight at the Serb, even powering through him on a few plays. But in the end, Jokic had the edge, earning his 10th triple-double of the season. Still, Sabonis was fearless and showed he was more than capable of going toe-to-toe with the league’s best.