The Sacramento Kings will take the floor Thursday night against the Golden State Warriors with major questions surrounding two of their most important players. While the Warriors have officially ruled out Stephen Curry due to illness, the Kings’ own injury concerns could offset any advantage gained from the two-time MVP’s absence.

Zach LaVine, who has been the Kings’ most consistent scoring threat in an otherwise uneven 2-5 start, remains listed as questionable due to ongoing lower back soreness. The guard has been battling the issue since before Sacramento’s recent game against Denver, but has continued to play through discomfort.

LaVine is averaging 27.4 points on high usage across seven games, providing crucial shot creation for a Kings offense that has struggled to find rhythm outside of isolated spurts.

Domantas Sabonis also appears on the injury report, listed as questionable with a left ribcage contusion. The All-Star center has been an anchor in the paint and on the glass, averaging 14.5 points and a dominant 14.2 rebounds per game.

His potential absence, or even a limited version of him, could significantly impact the Kings’ interior presence against a Warriors team that has leaned on small-ball versatility early in the season.

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The Warriors enter the matchup at 5-2, coming off a 118-107 win over the Phoenix Suns in which Curry scored 28 points despite noticeably playing through illness. Head coach Steve Kerr confirmed shortly after the game that Curry would not be available against Sacramento, citing the need to prioritize his recovery.

While missing Curry is a blow for Golden State, and Jimmy Butler could miss the game as well with a back problem, Sacramento’s current state raises just as many concerns. At 2-5, the Kings have struggled to close games and maintain defensive consistency.

The team is still integrating new roster pieces, including Malik Monk and Russell Westbrook in various roles, and has yet to establish a reliable offensive hierarchy beyond LaVine and Sabonis.

If LaVine and Sabonis can suit up, Sacramento has a chance to capitalize on Curry’s absence and gather some early-season momentum. If not, the Kings could be in for another uphill battle in what has already become a tense opening stretch.