Kings vs. Jazz projected lineups, injury report, player usage

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SACRAMENTO -- Welcome to the start of the 2018-19 Kings season.

After a long summer off and a short training camp and preseason, the Kings start the season Wednesday night at Golden 1 Center against the Utah Jazz.

The pregame show on NBC Sports Bay California is a full hour long for opening night and begins at 6 p.m., with tipoff scheduled for 7. You can watch both on TV or by downloading the MyTeams by NBC Sports app.

The Jazz embarrassed the Kings on their home floor less than a week ago, thumping Sacramento by a final of 132-93 during the preseason. Kings coach Dave Joerger and his young group need to have a short memory and put in a better effort against a sure-fire playoff team in their season opener. 

Following the game, the Kings hit the road for a three game trip beginning Friday night in New Orleans. They’ll make stops in OKC and Denver before returning home to face the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday. 

Line

Jazz by 8.5

Projected Starting Lineups

Kings
PG De’Aaron Fox
SG Buddy Hield
SF Justin Jackson
PF Marvin Bagley III
C Willie Cauley-Stein

Jazz
PG Ricky Rubio
SG Donovan Mitchell
SF Joe Ingles
PF Derrick Favors
C Rudy Gobert

Injury Report

Kings
SG Bogdan Bogdanovic (left knee) OUT, C Kosta Koufos (hamstring) OUT. 

Jazz 
PG Raul Neto (hamstring) OUT, SG/SF Thabo Sefolosha (league suspension) OUT.

Rotation Outlook

Kings
According to Joerger, the Kings plan on going with a 10-man rotation to open the season. His starting lineup is in flux, but expect the same group to get a four- or five-game look to open the season. Rookies Harry Giles III and Marvin Bagley III are expected to play 20-plus minutes per game, and that could expand quickly if they develop.

Iman Shumpert played in the Kings’ loss to Utah last week, and he has made it through a week of practice without a setback. He could be a late add to the rotation and play minutes at the small forward position. Veterans Zach Randolph and Ben McLemore likely will be out of the rotation to start the season, and Kosta Koufos is sitting with a hamstring strain. 

Jazz
The Jazz have a set starting five highlighted by young star Donovan Mitchell and NBA Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert. They’ll play a 10- to 11-man rotation. Dante Exum, Alec Burks, Jae Crowder, Royce O’Neale are the core second unit, with Grayson Allen and Georges Niang potentially seeing time as well.

Thabo Sefolosha is out because of a five-game league suspension for violating the substance abuse policy.

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