Sacramento Kings Latest As Forward Is Ruled Out Vs Warriors Through Injury

The Sacramento Kings will be without a vital cog in their rotation when they hit the court at Golden 1 Center on Friday.

Trey Lyles, a forward, will not play on Friday when the Kings host the Golden State Warriors at Golden 1 Center. Lyles missed the season’s opening victory over the Utah Jazz on Wednesday due to a left calf injury.

Lyles is getting closer to playing again after signing a two-year deal to rejoin Sacramento in July, but the Kings are being careful with the forward in the first few games of the regular season.

During Thursday’s session, the 27-year-old took part in a few exercises, but he hasn’t yet advanced to the full-contact phase of his training.

During the King’s last two preseason games and Wednesday’s season opening, rookie player and EuroLeague star Sasha Vezenkov has stepped in as the backup power forward with Lyles out.

Vezenkov scored eight points in 16 minutes of play on three of six shots (two of five from three-point range) and two steals.

Lyles is regarded as day-to-day, but it doesn’t seem like he will be long before he returns to the field.

About Kings forward Trey Lyles

Over 74 games in 2022-23, Lyles averaged 7.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 0.9 assists per game while shooting 46 percent from the field and 36 percent from three-point range over 16.9 minutes per appearance.

Lyles brought Sacramento stability at the backup four position while playing spot minutes at the small-ball five, an aspect of his game that he displayed during Games 6 and 7 of the NBA Playoffs against the Golden State Warriors.

A young Kings team needed experience in its rotation, and Lyles–a player who has been a part of three playoff runs with Utah, Denver, and now Sacramento–fit the bill in that regard.

Not only did Lyles bring a veteran presence, but the Kentucky product became a fan favorite due to his notable hustle and ability to make the right play.

When Is The Next Sacramento Kings Game?

Sacramento will return home to face the rival Golden State Warriors on Friday night in a game that ESPN will carry nationally.

The meeting between the Kings and Warriors will mark the 11th time over Sacramento’s past 15 games that these two Northern California heavyweights have met.

Friday’s home opener will be the Kings’ first of three matchups against Golden State during the season’s opening month, with the teams set to meet in Golden State next Wednesday, November 1st.