Los Angeles Lakers at Sacramento Kings

Injuries noted

Los Angeles Lakers: Adou Thiero (Out) — Thierro missed the beginning of the season with a left knee issue, so this is not related to that. Thiero will be re-evaluated in four weeks, but it's likely he misses the whole month of January. Thiero has just 15 NBA appearances to his name this season.; Austin Reaves (Out) — Reaves exited Thursday's loss to the Rockets with the injury, and the diagnosis confirmed the star guard will be sidelined for a sizable amount of time. The loss of Reaves means Marcus Smart, Dalton Knecht and potentially Bronny James could be in line for more minutes in the Lakers' backcourt alongside Luka Doncic. Reaves is averaging a career-high 26.2 points per game, so his absence will be a huge blow for the Lakers, as they'll have to rely even more on Doncic and LeBron James to carry the team offensively.

Sacramento Kings: Keegan Murray (Out) — Murray suffered a left ankle sprain in Sunday's loss to the Bucks, and he could need to sit out as long as four weeks with the injury. The timetable for a return is likely to keep him out until late January or early February. With Murray sidelined, the likes of Precious Achiuwa, Nique Clifford and Keon Ellis will all have an opportunity to pick up the slack.; Domantas Sabonis (Out) — Sabonis has been rehabbing from a partially torn meniscus in his left knee that he sustained in mid-November. His absence will extend into the new year, and it's unclear whether the veteran center will be available to return before the All-Star break in February. Rookie second-rounder Maxime Raynaud has started in each of the Kings' last five games and should remain in the starting lineup for as long as Sabonis is sidelined.; Isaiah Stevens (Questionable) — According to Scotto, Stevens' deal contains the maximum guaranteed protection in both seasons. A six-foot, 185-pound guard out of Colorado State, Stevens went undrafted in 2024 and began his professional career in the G League with the Heat's affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce. Miami upgraded him to a two-way deal in December, but he appeared in just three games for the NBA club before a sore right foot kept him out of the final six contests of the regular season. After Miami declined to extend him a qualifying offer prior to the start of free agency, Stevens was added to the Kings' Las Vegas Summer League roster over the weekend, and now Sacramento has decided to bring him aboard as one of its three two-way players. His outlook for earning playing time at the NBA level won't be much better in Sacramento than it had been in Miami, but Stevens should receive extended run in the G League with the Stockton Kings throughout the 2025-26 campaign. Stevens was productive at the G League level for Sioux Falls a season ago, averaging 12.8 points (on 45.2 percent shooting from the field), 9.4 assists, 3.1 rebounds, 1.2 three-pointers and 1.1 steals in 36.9 minutes over 33 appearances.; Dennis Schroder (Out) — Schroder got into an altercation with an opposing player in an arena hallway following the Kings' loss to the Lakers on Dec. 28. Now, he'll be sidelined for Sacramento's next three outings, and the veteran point guard's next opportunity to play will come Friday against the Wizards. In the meantime, Keon Ellis, Nique Clifford and Malik Monk are candidates for increased playing time.