Injury-Plagued Western Conference Showdown: Kings vs Grizzlies Set for February 23 Clash
On Monday, February 23, 2026, the FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee, will host a pivotal NBA matchup between the Sacramento Kings and the Memphis Grizzlies. Both franchises enter this contest grappling with significant injury woes and a distinct lack of momentum, setting the stage for a battle of attrition and bench depth.
Season Struggles and Playoff Implications
The Sacramento Kings have endured a particularly difficult season, currently languishing at the bottom of the Western Conference standings. Their record of 12 wins is the worst in the entire NBA, and they have lost two of their last 16 consecutive games, a dismal team record. This slump follows the season-ending surgeries of key players Domantas Sabonis and Zach LaVine.
Conversely, the Memphis Grizzlies have been erratic but remain mathematically alive in the play-in tournament race. Occupying 11th place in the Western Conference, they trail the Los Angeles Clippers by five games for the final play-in slot. Since the All-Star break, the Grizzlies hold a 1-1 record but have dropped five of their previous six outings, highlighting their inconsistency.
Broadcast Details and Viewing Information
Tipoff is scheduled for 8:00 PM Eastern Time. The game will be televised regionally on NBCSCA and FDSN SE-MEM. For streaming audiences, the matchup will be available in its entirety on Fubo and Prime Video platforms, ensuring fans can follow the action live.
Projected Starting Lineups
Sacramento Kings:
- PG: Russell Westbrook
- SG: DeMar DeRozan
- SF: Keegan Murray
- PF: Precious Achiuwa
- C: Maxime Raynaud
Memphis Grizzlies:
- PG: Ty Jerome
- SG: Walter Clayton Jr.
- SF: Jaylen Wells
- PF: Taylor Hendricks
- C: Kyle Anderson
Comprehensive Injury Report
The depth of both rosters will be severely tested due to a lengthy list of unavailable players.
Sacramento Kings Injury Report:
- Devin Carter: Day-to-day (Back)
- De'Andre Hunter: Out (Underwent season-ending eye surgery)
- Dylan Cardwell: Out (Sprained left ankle)
- Domantas Sabonis: Out (Underwent season-ending knee surgery)
- Zach LaVine: Out (Underwent season-ending surgery on right hand)
Memphis Grizzlies Injury Report:
- Ty Jerome: Day-to-day (Illness)
- Santi Aldama: Out (Knee)
- Kyle Anderson: Day-to-day (Knee)
- Cedric Coward: Out (Knee)
- Kentavious Caldwell-Pope: Out (Underwent surgery to address misalignment of right pinky finger)
- Ja Morant: Out (Experiencing discomfort during recovery from UCL sprain in left elbow)
- Zach Edey: Out (Recovering from stress reaction in left ankle)
- Brandon Clarke: Out (Progressing from Grade 2 right calf strain)
Game Prediction and Betting Outlook
This contest marks the fourth and final regular-season meeting between these two teams. Historically, the Kings lead the all-time series 59-53. However, the Grizzlies have dominated this season's matchups, winning all three previous games.
Entering this game, the Memphis Grizzlies are installed as 5.5-point favorites. A victory for Memphis would trigger a payout of 1.51 times on PrizePicks Team Picks. The outcome will likely hinge on which team can better manage its shortened rotation and capitalize on the other's absences.
Notably, the Grizzlies' recent games have trended toward high-scoring affairs. Out of their last nine contests, seven have exceeded the total points threshold, adding an intriguing offensive dimension to this injury-marred showdown.
