Kings vs. 76ers gameday: Joel Embiid, Kevin Huerter injury news, updates, scouting reports
The Kings will continue a long, grueling stretch of road games when they visit the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday at Wells Fargo Center in a marquee matchup on ESPN. Fortunately, they won’t have to contend with reigning MVP Joel Embiid.
The 76ers have ruled Embiid out along with Robert Covington and Kenneth Lofton Jr. Embiid and Covington are experiencing left knee inflammation. Lofton is dealing with a left shoulder injury.
The Kings (23-14) are listing Kevin Huerter as questionable due to a left ankle sprain. Huerter was back in the starting lineup for the second game in a row in Wednesday’s win over the Charlotte Hornets, but he rolled his ankle when he stepped on Keegan Murray’s foot following the opening tip.
The 76ers (23-12) have struggled without Embiid this season, going 2-7 in games he has missed. The 280-pound center is leading the league in scoring, averaging a career-high 34.6 points, 11.8 rebounds, 6.0 assists, 2.0 blocks and 1.1 steals.
This is the third stop on a five-game road trip that will take the Kings to Milwaukee on Sunday and Phoenix on Tuesday before they return to Sacramento to face the Indiana Pacers and Atlanta Hawks. The Kings are three games into a daunting stretch in which they will play 12 of 14 and 15 of 19 on the road.
Scouting Sacramento
Sacramento is fifth in the Western Conference, one game behind the Los Angeles Clippers for the No. 4 seed. The Kings are three games behind the conference-leading Minnesota Timberwolves and Oklahoma City Thunder, who are tied at 26-11.
De’Aaron Fox is averaging 27.9 points, 4.2 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 1.6 steals. Over the past six games, he has averaged 19.5 points while shooting 41.8% from the field and 30% from 3-point range.
With Embiid out, Domantas Sabonis could be a big matchup problem for Philadelphia. The All-NBA center is averaging 20.2 points, a league-high 12.7 rebounds and 7.7 assists. Sabonis has 20 consecutive double-doubles and seven triple-doubles in the past 13 games.
Keegan Murray (16.2 ppg), Malik Monk (15.0 ppg) and Harrison Barnes (10.9 ppg) are also scoring in double figures for Sacramento.
Scouting Philadelphia
Philadelphia is third in the Eastern Conference, five games behind the conference-leading Boston Celtics and two games behind the Milwaukee Bucks.
The 76ers have lost three in a row and four of their last five, the last two without Embiid. They suffered a 139-132 overtime loss to the Hawks on Wednesday despite a big game from Tyrese Maxey, who had 35 points, eight rebounds, nine assists and four steals.
Maxey is averaging 26.2 points, 3.7 rebounds and 6.7 assists. Tobias Harris (17.4 ppg), Kelly Oubre Jr. (13.4 ppg) and De’Anthony Melton (12.0 ppg) are also scoring in double figures.
Ruled out
The Kings have ruled Huerter out for Friday’s game against the 76ers. Chris Duarte will likely start in Huerter’s place, giving Sacramento a more defensive-minded guard to match up with Maxey.
Kings at 76ers
When: 4:30 p.m.
Where: Wells Fargo Center
TV: ESPN
Radio: Sactown Sports 1140
Odds: 76ers -1.5
Over/under: 240.5
Injury report
Kings: QUESTIONABLE — Kevin Huerter (ankle). OUT — Jordan Ford (G League); Jalen Slawson (G League).
76ers: OUT — Robert Covington (knee); Joel Embiid (knee); Kenneth Lofton Jr. (shoulder).
Upcoming schedule
Jan. 12 at Philadelphia 76ers
Jan. 14 at Milwaukee Bucks
Jan. 16 at Phoenix Suns
Jan. 18 vs. Indiana Pacers
Jan. 22 vs. Atlanta Hawks
