Election Day in the U.S. gave all teams the day off on Monday, but the break won't be for long. Regular-season action is set to pick up tomorrow, with a whopping 14-game slate of high-intensity matchups. In Sacramento, the Los Angeles Lakers will be on the road for their third game in four nights.
At 6-2, the Lakers should have no trouble taking care of business against a lowly Kings team (1-6), and it helps that their injury situation is improving. Ahead of tip-off tomorrow, the team released their latest injury report, and it spells good news for the Purple and Gold.
The only player ruled out for them is Adou Thiero (left knee management). Walker Kessler (left finger splint) is listed as available, meaning he's more than likely to play.
Thiero, 22, has yet to make his debut for the Lakers, and it's unclear exactly when he'll be ready. The current diagnosis is left knee swelling, which can take anywhere from days to weeks to recover. The last we heard, Thiero has participated in live practice and is "trending in the right direction," with a possible date being targeted for the end of the week.
Really, Thiero is the only player that the Lakers are waiting on right now. Walker Kessler, despite hurting his finger during practice, has started in all eight games this season, and there's no reason to think he'll miss the Kings game after dropping 15 points, 15 rebounds, two assists, and two steals against the Heat on Monday .
Ziaire Williams has also recently missed time for the Lakers, but he recently made his return against the Heat – albeit in limited minutes. The exact nature of his ramp-up plan is not publicly known, but he should at least be available to provide some depth on the wing.
For the Kings, meanwhile, the injury luck hasn't been nearly as strong. Keegan Murray (left ankle capsulitis) is out, joining Maxime Raynaud (right patella subluxation) and Ben Simmons (right Achilles repair) on the bench. Precious Achiuwa is probable with left ankle soreness.
We already know the situation with Simmons, and the Kings shouldn't expect him back for some time. Fortunately, at least Keegan Murray should be healthy later this month, although it's doubtful that he'll change their current trajectory. As it stands, the Kings are one of the worst teams in the NBA (on paper), and even a fully intact roster would not be enough to keep up with the Lakers.
Still, anything can happen in the NBA, and that's why the Purple and Gold will not underestimate the enemy. With a chance to win their third straight game and keep up their positive momentum, the Lakers are not going to take the night off. Fortunately, they have everything working in their favor, including the injury situation. With no excuses for defeat, we can expect the Lakers to come out firing against the Kings, just like they did in their previous games. After that, however, is when the real test begins: a rematch against the third-seeded Trail Blazers in the NBA Cup.
