Here is what you need to know before the Lakers’ final road game against the Sacramento Kings.
1)
The Lakers have been devastated by injuries this season, as Nick Young (fractured left kneecap), Jeremy Lin (sore left knee) and Dwight Buycks (fractured right third metacarpal) have been ruled out for the season. Meanwhile, Wesley Johnson will miss Monday’s game due to a sprained left ankle, as L.A. will continue to add to its league-high 307 games missed due to injury.
2)
The Lakers have called up Vander Blue from the D-League's Los Angeles D-Fenders, giving the team three healthy guards, alongside Jordan Clarkson and Jabari Brown. Blue was the D-League's second-highest scorer (23.3) and the only player to average at least 20 points, five rebounds and five assists. The Marquette product caught fire late in the season, scoring 29.0 points per game in his last 12 contests.
3)
George Karl has gone 9-19 since taking over the Kings, who have also been led by Mike Malone (11-13) and Tyrone Corbin (7-21) this season. Sacramento is Karl’s sixth NBA head coaching job, having held the reigns of Cleveland (1984-86), Golden State (1986-88), Seattle (1991-98), Milwaukee (1998-2003) and Denver (2004-13). Karl has won 1,915 games in his 24-year coaching career, which ranks sixth all-time.
4)
Like the Lakers, Sacramento is reeling from injuries. The team’s three leading scorers — DeMarcus Cousins (24.1 ppg; right foot rest and rehab), Rudy Gay (21.1; concussion) and Darren Collison (16.1; core muscle injury) — are all out for the season. Meanwhile, Reggie Evans (right thumb sprain) and Eric Moreland (left shoulder labral tear) will also not play against the Lakers.
5)
The loss of Cousins hurts Sacramento in particular, as the first-time all-star ranked fifth in the league in scoring and led all players in points in the paint (12.5). Cousins was also huge on the glass, hauling in the NBA’s third-most rebounds (12.7).
6)
With so many injuries, Omri Casspi has stepped up as the Kings’ offensive leader. Over his last seven games, Casspi — who was averaging 7.4 points prior — has piled up 19.0 points per game, while shooting 56.3 percent (40-for-87) from the field and 52.4 percent (11-for-21) on 3-pointers.
Omri Casspi Shot Chart (Last Seven Games)
7)
Los Angeles native Andre Miller has made the most of his career-low 15.4 minutes per game this season. The 39-year-old currently leads the league in assist ratio (39.9), while averaging 3.5 dimes. With the retirement of Steve Nash last month, Miller also became the NBA's active leader in career assists (8,431), while ranking ninth all-time.
8)
With four more rebounds, Jason Thompson will have the second spot on Sacramento’s all-time list — retaking the ranking from Cousins (3,719). Thompson has already played the most games in Kings history (537), while committing the most fouls (1,665).
9)
Defense has been an issue for Sacramento, which is allowing the league’s second-most points (105.3). The Kings have been especially vulnerable on fast-breaks (16.9) and post-ups (9.0), as they are allowing NBA-highs in both categories.
10)
Sacramento has lost eight of its last nine games — including its last three by 11 points or more. Over this nine-game stretch, the Kings are last in the NBA in free throw percentage (64.3), while their opponents rank first in offensive rebounds (13.1), fast-break points (17.1) and blocks (6.8).