Kings open season at Clippers with both rosters hit by injuries
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The gist
The Sacramento Kings open the 2026-27 season at the Los Angeles Clippers on Oct. 21.
Both teams are missing key players, so the opener hinges on who steps up.
Background
The Sacramento Kings are an NBA team that went 22-60 last season and missed the playoffs for the third straight year; the Los Angeles Clippers host this opener at Intuit Dome in Inglewood. Both franchises enter the 2026-27 season in transition: the Clippers are described as rebuilding after the Kawhi Leonard drama and high-profile player exits, while the Kings are described as perpetually rebuilding. The game is the season opener for both teams, and Sacramento went winless in a five-game preseason slate.
How it unfolded
- Oct 20, 2026The Kings are set to open the 2026-27 season Oct. 21 at the Clippers after finishing last season 22-60 and going 0-5 in the preseason against Western Conference opponents.
- Oct 21, 2026Kings (0-0) vs. Clippers (0-0) at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, tipping off 7:30 PM PT / 10:30 PM ET.
- Oct 21, 2026The Clippers list Jordan Miller (shoulder), Max Strus (foot), Yanic Konan Niederhäuser (Lisfranc surgery), Brandon Ingram (heel) and Bradley Beal (knee) as out.
- Oct 21, 2026The Kings list Dylan Cardwell (calf) and Maxime Raynaud (knee) as out, Ben Simmons out for the season (Achilles) and Malik Monk questionable (ankle).
- Oct 21, 2026Kings rookie guard Darius Acuff Jr., the No. 7 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, is expected to make his NBA regular-season debut after averaging 17.3 points in four preseason games.
- Oct 23, 2026The Kings host the Trail Blazers in their home opener at 7 p.m., while the Clippers play at the Lakers.
Who’s saying what
- Analysts
- Kings Herald writer Will Griffith says national talking heads widely consider the Kings the worst team in the league, with the Clippers close behind after their high-profile player exits.
- Analysts
- Yahoo Sports writer Grant Mona says the Clippers are missing more talent than the Kings but still expects them to win at home, citing Sacramento's 22-60 record and thin center depth.
- Analysts
- SI writer Logan Struck says the absences give the Kings more hope of a road win, though the Clippers remain dangerous after going 2-1 in the preseason led by All-Star guard Darius Garland.
- Party
- Kings forward Ben Simmons, in a social media post shared by the Associated Press, called his season-ending injury another chapter in his journey rather than the end of his story.
Still unverified
Malik Monk is listed as questionable with ankle soreness; he did not appear in the preseason and only returned to practice this week.