De'Andre

Hunter

The Kings are without Domantas Sabonis (knee) for Sunday’s game, opening up a spot in the starting lineup. Cardwell will replace him, and the Kings will need his rebounding and defense. Also, Hunter reclaims his place in the lineup with Leaky Black heading to the bench. And Achiuwa remains in the starting lineup despite Keegan Murray returning from an ankle injury.

Hunter did not play in Friday’s loss to the Spurs, with Leaky Black replacing him in the starting lineup. Black has played significant minutes recently due to his defensive ability, and that should remain the case on Sunday.

DeAndre Hunter (illness) will not play against the Spurs on Friday, so Leaky Black will get the start. Leaky has been an energy guy who has gained some favor in the eyes of Doug Christie. If you’re in a deeper league, Leaky Black could be worth a stream, but the ball won’t be in his hands with this current iteration of the Kings.

Hunter’s absence opens up a spot in the Kings’ starting lineup. Malik Monk and Leaky Black may see their minutes increase, whether or not they join the starting lineup.

With Keegan Murray (ankle) still on the shelf, Sacramento’s rotation is already thin. If Hunter is forced to sit out against San Antonio, Emanuel Sharp and Malik Monk could handle additional minutes.

While Hunter’s streak of 20-point games didn’t reach three on Saturday, he did hit double digits in shot attempts for the third straight game. His fantasy value has been limited for most of his career, especially in category leagues, because he hasn’t produced much in assists, steals, or blocks. However, Hunter’s recent scoring run and Keegan Murray’s continued absence make him someone to consider adding in deep leagues.

It was a rough start to the year for Hunter, but he was able to score a season-best 24 points in their previous game on Tuesday. In this one, he matched that mark, though he knocked down one less three-pointer. Hunter has been hot during this two-game stretch, but he won’t continue to score 24 points every night, and his lack of production in other categories makes him a difficult player to justify rostering.

Largely an afterthought in fantasy basketball despite being a starter, Hunter delivered one of his best performances in a while on Tuesday. Averaging 5.7 points per game in Sacramento’s first three contests, Hunter finished with his first 20-point game since December 22, 2025, as a member of the Cavaliers. With Keegan Murray (ankle) out for 10-14 days, Hunter should have more opportunities to contribute offensively. The question is whether he can do so consistently.

Simmons’ 2026-27 season reportedly ended in devastating fashion days before his official return to the NBA. The 6-foot-10 guard/forward signed with the Kings with the expectation that he would back up rookie point guard Darius Acuff Jr. However, Simmons showed enough during the preseason to earn a starting spot alongside Acuff. Sunday’s injury changes that, obviously, with Precious Achiuwa and De’Andre Hunter being potential replacements in the starting five. As for the point guard rotation, Malik Monk will be asked to take on more playmaking responsibilities off the bench.

With injuries limiting him to 23 games, Murray’s 2025-26 season was a lost one. He made his first appearance of the preseason on Saturday, logging eight minutes in the first quarter before being shut down. Murray’s return pushed De’Andre Hunter (four points, three rebounds and one assist) to the bench, and that’s likely to be the small-forward rotation once the regular season begins. As long as he’s healthy, Murray can be a valuable fantasy option. Another key for him beyond staying healthy is establishing a connection with rookie point guard Darius Acuff Jr.