Keegan Murray Returns to Bolster Kings Against Shorthanded Pacers
The Sacramento Kings have announced that forward Keegan Murray will be available for tonight’s matchup against the Indiana Pacers. This news comes as both teams prepare for a critical game amid varying injury concerns.
Injury Report Overview
For the Pacers, the injury list reflects a challenging situation:
Ben Sheppard: Out – Calf
Tyrese Haliburton: Out – Achilles
Quenton Jackson: Out – Hamstring
Aaron Nesmith: Out – Knee
Obi Toppin: Out – Foot
Kam Jones: Out – Back
On the Kings’ side, the roster is also dealing with some setbacks:
Keegan Murray: Available – Trapezius
Domantas Sabonis: Out – Knee
Dennis Schroder: Out – Hip
Game Details
The Kings and Pacers will face off on Monday, December 8, at 7:00 p.m. EST at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. Fans can catch the action on:
TV: FanDuel Sports Network Indiana, NBC Sports California
Radio: 93.5/107.5 The Fan (Indiana), Sports 1140 AM (Sacramento)
Matchup Insights
This marks the first of two regular season encounters between the Kings (6-17) and the struggling Pacers (5-18). Last season, the Pacers bested the Kings in both matchups, leading to an overall series record of 55-45 in favor of Indiana. Notably, the Pacers hold a significant advantage at home, with a 33-17 record against Sacramento.
Projected Starting Lineups
Despite the injuries affecting both teams, the projected starters are as follows:
Pacers
G Andrew Nembhard
G Bennedict Mathurin
C Jay Huff
F Garrison Matthews
F Pascal Siakam
Kings
G Russell Westbrook
G Zach LaVine
C Maxime Raynaud
F DeMar DeRozan
F Keegan Murray
Betting Lines
According to FanDuel Sportsbook, the betting lines for the game are as follows:
Spread: Pacers -3.5 (-114), Kings +3.5 (-106)
Moneyline: Pacers -164, Kings +138
Total points scored: 231.5 (over -112, under -108)
Coach’s Perspective
Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle commented on his team’s recent performances and the upcoming challenge against the Kings. He emphasized the importance of defensive efforts, stating, “Getting back on defense was a big part of it. We did well in both games. We did good things offensively that helped our defense as well.” He acknowledged the talent on the Kings’ roster, highlighting their formidable players like DeMar DeRozan and Russell Westbrook, while also noting the potential impact of Keegan Murray and the skilled young big, Maxime Raynaud. “It’s a big challenge,” he noted, setting the stage for an intriguing matchup.
As both teams gear up, the Kings will look to capitalize on the return of Murray, while the Pacers hope to navigate their injury woes and maintain momentum.
