The Sacramento Kings and Los Angeles Clippers still have something to play for when they face each other Friday night at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento.
Both teams are fighting for position in a wild Western Conference playoff race that will come down to the last day of the regular season.
The Kings (39-41) are ninth in the West, one game ahead of the No. 10 Dallas Mavericks. The Kings and Mavericks have secured the last two play-in bids, but homecourt advantage for their first-round play-in game has yet to be determined.
The Clippers (48-32) are fifth in the Western Conference after winning six in a row and eight of their last nine. They have the same record as the fourth-seeded Denver Nuggets with a one-game lead over the Golden State Warriors, Memphis Grizzlies and Minnesota Timberwolves.
Here are three things to watch in Friday’s game.
Injury news
The Kings are listing Keegan Murray as questionable due to lower back inflammation. Malik Monk (left calf strain) and Jake LaRavia (left thumb incomplete scaphoid fracture) are out.
Norman Powell (right shoulder soreness) and Ivica Zubac (right ankle sprain) are questionable for the Clippers. Nicolas Batum (right groin strain), Amir Coffey (left knee inflammation) and Patty Mills (illness) have been ruled out.
More on Clippers’ injuries
The Kings are big underdogs, but the odds might shift in their favor if Powell and Zubac are unavailable.
Powell is the second-leading scorer for the Clippers, averaging 22.1 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.2 steals. Zubac, an All-Defensive Team candidate, averages 16.7 points, 12.6 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.1 blocks.
Play-in race
Sacramento and Dallas are locked in for the last two play-in spots. The team that finishes ninth will host the other in the first round of the play-in tournament.
The Kings can secure homecourt advantage with one win or one loss by the Mavericks. If they finish with identical records, the Kings will win the tiebreaker by virtue of their 3-0 record in the season series against the Mavericks.
Clippers at Kings
When: 7 p.m.
Where: Golden 1 Center
TV: NBC Sports California
Radio: Sactown Sports 1140
Odds: Clippers -6.5
Over/under: 226.5
Injury report
Clippers: QUESTIONABLE — Norman Powell (shoulder); Ivica Zubac (ankle). OUT — Nicolas Batum (groin); Amir Coffey (knee); Patty Mills (illness).
Kings: QUESTIONABLE — Keegan Murray (back). OUT — Isaiah Crawford (G League); Mason Jones (G League); Jake LaRavia (thumb); Malik Monk (calf).
