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The Sacramento Kings (8-27) look to end their four-game losing streak as they welcome the Milwaukee Bucks (15-20) to Golden 1 Center for their 17th home game in Sacramento, California on Sunday, Jan. 4.
Sacramento is coming off a 129-102 road loss to the Phoenix Suns, a game in which the Kings saw their veteran guard Russell Westbrook eclipse NBA history and their rookie center Maxime Raynaud go down with an injury that doesn’t seem to be significant.
The Bucks won their previous matchup with the Charlotte Hornets, 122-121, on a game-winning alley-oop dunk by Giannis Antetokounmpo getting a lob from Kevin Porter Jr.
The last time these two teams met was Nov. 1 at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee when the Kings outlasted the Bucks 135-133 behind a Zach LaVine 31-point performance.
Here’s what you need to know ahead of Sunday’s matchup between the Kings and Bucks:
How to watch Kings vs. Bucks: TV channel, live streamStart time:Â 9 p.m. ET (6 p.m. PT)Location:Â Golden 1 Center (Sacramento)TV Channel:Â NBC Sports California; FanDuel Sports Network North; FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin; NBA League PassLive stream:Â NBA League Pass;Â FuboKings injury report
Despite going down with apparent injury on Friday against the Suns, Kings rookie center Maxime Raynaud did not appear on the injury report and is expected to play Sunday against the Bucks.
Kings guard Zach LaVine has been out with a moderate left ankle sprain but is expected to return against the Bucks. He has missed nine games and hasn’t played since Dec. 14.
Center Domantas Sabonis (partial meniscus tear in left knee) remains out for the Kings.
Two-way players Dylan Cardwell, Daeqwon Plowden and Isaiah Stevens are assigned to the Stockton Kings, the G-League affiliate.
Kings keys to victoryRyan Rollins can score:Â Rollins is rolling this season. He averages a little more than 17 points per game and shoots 42% from deep. Someone will have to take on the challenge of slowing him down.Greek Freak presence: Giannis Antetokounmpo is going to dominate the paint, as he usually does. He leads the league with 20.1 points in the paint per game. Make it tough, play physical and force him to earn those easy buckets at the free throw line.Get defensive stops:Â This team likes to score, but they will also allow other teams to score as Milwaukee allows 116 points per game. Offense shouldn’t be a question, can Sacramento get stops defensively?Compete for 48 minutes:Â Going to repeat this point of emphasis because it’s usually one quarter where the Kings have a lapse or lose focus or just simply don’t compete for 12 minutes and it costs them the game. It happened again against Phoenix. They have to fix that to have a chance to win.Bucks vs. Kings odds
Odds according to BetMGM as of Sunday afternoon.
Spread:Â Bucks by 5.5 (-115)Over/Under:Â 230.5 (O/U -110)Moneyline:Â Bucks -235Kings next five gamesJan. 6 vs. Dallas MavericksJan. 9 at Golden State WarriorsJan. 11 vs. Houston RocketsJan. 12 vs. Los Angeles LakersJan. 14 vs. New York Knicks
➤ Sacramento Kings complete 2025-26 schedule