From the outside looking in, the Chicago Bulls and Sacramento Kings don’t appear all that different. Sacramento features three former Bulls—DeMar DeRozan, Doug McDermott, and Zach LaVine—two of whom, both over 30, are averaging more than 37 minutes per game. Chicago, meanwhile, rosters one former King, Kevin Huerter, acquired last season in the LaVine trade.
Yet the two teams’ early-season success and playstyles couldn’t be more different. For the Kings, things have been out of sync from the start. Just days before signing his five-year, $140 million extension, forward Keegan Murray tore the ulnar collateral ligament in his left thumb, underwent surgery, and is expected to be reevaluated in four to six weeks.
Sacramento’s thin wing rotation spells trouble
Murray, by far the Kings’ best 3-and-D player, is a massive loss for a team stacked with interior-oriented offensive stalwarts with defensive liabilities. At 6-foot-8 and 225 pounds, he’s Sacramento’s most versatile defender, one who’d likely draw the assignment of slowing down ascending sophomore Matas Buzelis.
With Murray sidelined to start the season, the Kings turned to rookie Nique Clifford to fill the void. Clifford didn’t light up the scoreboard—finishing with just two points—but he grabbed eight rebounds and posted a positive plus/minus in his debut. Unfortunately, an MRI afterward revealed a right hamstring strain, sidelining him for at least a week before a possible return on November 1.
Without Clifford and Murray, Sacramento rolled out an unusual lineup on October 28 against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Alongside the usual trio of DeRozan, LaVine, and Domantas Sabonis, the Kings started guards Dennis Schröder—who’s opened every game this season—and Russell Westbrook. Despite outrebounding the Thunder, Sacramento surrendered 52 points in the paint.
While the Bulls lack the downhill attackers that fuel Oklahoma City’s offense, especially with Coby White still sidelined by a calf strain, Chicago actually averages more points in the paint per game (56.0) than the defending NBA champions.
The Kings are in for a hard-fought battle without Clifford and Murray. And while Chicago will also be without White and reserve big man Zach Collins, Billy Donovan’s Bulls have been one of the league’s more surprising teams to open the 2025–26 season.
Full injury report for Chicago Bulls vs Sacramento Kings
The complete injury report for tonight's game is as follows:
Chicago Bulls
Out: Zach Collins (Left Scaphoid Fracture), Coby White (Right Calf Strain).
Sacramento Kings
Out: Nique Clifford (Right Hamstring Strain), Keegan Murray (Left Thumb; UCL Injury Recovery).
Questionable: Keon Ellis (Left Shoulder Soreness).