Kings vs. Cavaliers: Jarrett Allen and Sasha Vezenkov injury updates; scouting reports
The Kings will face the hottest team in the NBA when they conclude their longest road trip of the season against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.
The Kings (29-19) are 5-1 on their current seven-game trip after beating the Chicago Bulls 123-115 on Saturday at United Center. They are a season-high 10 games over .500 with a 15-11 record on the road.
The Cavaliers (31-16) have been almost unbeatable since the beginning of January. They have won five in a row and 13 of 14 dating back to Jan. 3. That stretch included two wins over the Milwaukee Bucks and one over the Los Angeles Clippers.
The Kings are again listing forward Sasha Vezenkov as questionable due to a right ankle sprain. Vezenkov has missed the past six games after suffering the injury in a win over the Atlanta Hawks on Jan. 22.
Vezenkov recently told The Sacramento Bee the injury turned out to be “a little more tricky than I thought.”
“We’re doing everything possible for my ankle,” Vezenkov said. “I was thinking it would be something minor, but unfortunately it was a little bit longer than I expected.”
The Cavaliers are listing center Jarrett Allen as questionable with a left ankle sprain. Allen is averaging 15.5 points and 10.7 rebounds. He had 26 points and 16 rebounds in Saturday’s win over the San Antonio Spurs.
Backup center Tristan Thompson, who played for the Kings in 2021-22, is serving a 25-game suspension after testing positive for ibutamoren, a growth hormone, and SARM LGD-4033, which is commonly used by bodybuilders and weightlifters for muscle enhancement.
Scouting Sacramento
The Kings are fifth in the Western Conference. They are five games behind the conference-leading Oklahoma City Thunder and Minnesota Timberwolves and four games behind the Denver Nuggets for fourth.
De’Aaron Fox is coming off a 41-point game in Saturday’s win over the Bulls. He is averaging a career-high 27.5 points, 5.4 assists and 1.8 steals. He has 11 steals in the past two games.
Domantas Sabonis averages 19.9 points, 13.0 rebounds and 8.0 assists. He has recorded 30 consecutive double-doubles. That was thought to be a single-season franchise record, but the team issued a correction Saturday, noting that Jerry Lucas had single-season streaks of 30 and 46 games and a 55-game streak over two seasons.
Keegan Murray is averaging 15.6 ppg and 5.4 rebounds. Sixth Man of the Year candidate Malik Monk averages 14.6 points and 5.4 assists. Harrison Barnes (12.0 ppg) and Kevin Huerter (10.9 ppg) are also scoring in double figures.
Scouting Cleveland
The Cavaliers are third in the Eastern Conference, 5 ½ games behind the Boston Celtics and one game behind the Bucks.
Donovan Mitchell is averaging 28.2 points, 5.5 rebounds, 6.4 assists and 1.9 steals. He is shooting 46.9% from the field and 35.1% from 3-point range.
Darius Garland averages 19.4 points and 5.7 assists. Evan Mobley is averaging 15.9 points and 10.1 rebounds. Allen, Caris LeVert (15.3 ppg), Max Strus (12.4 ppg), Georges Niang (9.1 ppg) and Isaac Okoro (8.8 ppg) are also playing key roles for the Cavaliers.
Garland questionable
The Cavaliers have added Garland to their injury report for Monday’s game against the Kings. He is now listed as questionable due to left knee soreness.
Kings at Cavaliers
When: 4 p.m.
Where: Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse
TV: NBC Sports California
Radio: Sactown Sports 1140
Odds: Cavaliers -5.5
Over/under: 232.5
Injury report
Kings: QUESTIONABLE — Sasha Vezenkov (ankle). OUT — Jordan Ford (G League); Jalen Slawson (G League).
Cavaliers: QUESTIONABLE — Jarrett Allen (ankle). OUT — Emoni Bates (G League); Ty Jerome (ankle); Isaiah Mobley (G League); Tristan Thompson (league suspension).
Upcoming schedule
Feb. 5 at Cleveland Cavaliers
Feb. 7 vs. Detroit Pistons
Feb. 9 vs. Denver Nuggets
Feb. 11 at Oklahoma City Thunder
Feb. 13 at Phoenix Suns
