Sacramento Kings vs. Houston Rockets Injury Report: 12/3

The Sacramento Kings are navigating one of their worst starts to a season in franchise history, and that start could take another hit on Wednesday night when they face the 13-5 Houston Rockets at the Toyota Center.

Already without star center Domantas Sabonis (knee), the Kings could be without reserve guards Malik Monk (shoulder) and Dennis Schroder (hip) when they take the floor in Texas.

Monk, who didn’t practice on Monday due to right shoulder soreness, appears to be more likely to suit up than Schroder on Wednesday, as the Sixth Man of the Year candidate is listed as probable.

Over 18 games this season, Monk has been one of the Kings’ lone bright spots, averaging 13.9 points and 2.2 assists per contest on 45/40/87 shooting splits.

MALIK OH MY 🤯 pic.twitter.com/mcrRRjxfhX

— Sacramento Kings (@SacramentoKings) December 1, 2025

After missing the past two games due to a right hip flexor strain, Schroder is listed as questionable.

Since being moved out of the starting lineup and into a reserve role, Schroder is averaging 14.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 6.0 assists while shooting 38 percent from three-point range (as opposed to 30 percent as a starter).

Here’s the full injury report for both Sacramento and Houston ahead of the first matchup of the season between these two Western Conference counterparts:

Sacramento Kings vs. Houston Rockets Injury Report

Sacramento

Malik Monk (right shoulder soreness) – PROBABLE
Dennis Schroder (right hip flexor strain) – QUESTIONABLE
Domantas Sabonis (left knee, partial meniscus tear) – OUT
Dylan Cardwell (G League) – OUT
Daeqwon Plowden (G League) – OUT
Isaiah Stevens (G League) – OUT

Houston

Steven Adams (right ankle; tendinopathy) – OUT
Fred VanVleet (right knee ACL repair) – OUT
Tari Eason (right oblique strain) – OUT
Dorian Finney-Smith (left ankle surgery) – OUT
Isaiah Crawford (G League) – OUT

Be sure to catch all of the Sacramento Kings vs. Houston Rockets action right here on Sactown Sports 1140 AM, with pregame coverage beginning at 2:00 PM PT on The Drive Guys before a 5:00 pm PT tip-off from Houston, Texas.

More Sacramento Kings content from Sactown Sports

Many Sacramento Kings fans are calling for the team to tank. NBA teams tank for one reason — it works.

There are, however, caveats. Tanking doesn’t ALWAYS work; it’s hard to keep fans engaged while you’re tanking, and flattened lottery odds make it more difficult than ever to land the best players in the draft.

There’s one other problem with tanking: It can take longer than you expect.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at how long it’s taken four teams, the Sacramento Kings are believed to be patterning their rebuild after, to complete the job; that is, how many losing seasons did each endure before posting a winning record?

Oklahoma City Thunder

The Rebuilding Team Gold Standard!

After reaching the postseason 10 times in 11 years, the Thunder decided to start from scratch. They slipped to 22 wins in ’20-’21, and 24 wins the next year. They posted 40 wins in 2022-’23 and actually qualified for the Play-In tournament.

During this rebuilding period, they drafted Aaron Wiggins, Josh Giddy, Jaylin Williams, Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren. Believe it or not, the Thunder rebuild actually began while they were still in Seattle.

Long story short, they received a first-round pick from Phoenix in exchange for assuming Kurt Thomas’s contract.

With the pick, they drafted Serge Ibaka. Ibaka was later traded to Orlando for Victor Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis, both of whom were eventually sent to the Pacers for Paul George. When Paul George was sent to the Clippers, OKC received its current centerpiece, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

Sacramento Kings vs. Houston Rockets Injury Report: 12/3

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