Kings vs. Hornets gameday: Cody Martin, P.J. Washington injury updates; scouting reports

The Kings will have a chance to avenge one of their worst loses of the season when they visit the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday at Spectrum Center in the second game of a five-game road trip.

The Kings (22-14) will be playing on the second night of a back-to-back after rallying from a 20-point deficit to beat the Detroit Pistons 131-110 on Tuesday at Little Caesars Arena.

The Hornets (8-26) have lost 13 of their last 14 games. Their only win during that stretch was a 111-104 victory over the Kings on Jan. 2 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento.

The Hornets are listing Cody Martin as questionable with a bilateral groin strain. P.J. Washington is doubtful with a right foot sprain. LaMelo Ball (right ankle sprain), Gordon Hayward (left calf strain), Frank Ntilikina (tibia fracture) and Mark Williams (lower back injury recovery) have been ruled out.

Scouting Sacramento

The Kings are fifth in the Western Conference, one game behind the Los Angeles Clippers for the No. 4 seed. They are four games behind the conference-leading Minnesota Timberwolves.

De’Aaron Fox is averaging 28.3 points, 4.4 rebounds, 6.0 assists and 1.6 steals for the Kings. Fox had 26 points on 10-of-19 shooting from the field and 4-of-7 shooting from 3-point range against the Pistons after being held to a season-low three points in Sunday’s loss to the New Orleans Pelicans.

Domantas Sabonis recorded his ninth double-double of the season with 37 points, 10 rebounds and 13 assists against the Pistons. He is averaging 19.7 points, 12.8 rebounds and 7.6 assists. According to Basketball Reference, the only other players who have hit those marks are Oscar Robertson (1961), Wilt Chamberlain (1966) and Nikola Jokic (2021-22, 2023-24).

Keegan Murray (15.4 ppg), Malik Monk (14.7 ppg) and Harrison Barnes (11.4 ppg) are also scoring in double figures. Monk has recorded nine assists in three of the past four games. He has tallied eight or more assists 10 times this season, including seven of the past 15 games.

Kevin Huerter returned to the starting lineup Tuesday after coming off the bench the previous five games. He was held to four points on 2-of-11 shooting and went 0 of 6 from 3-point range, but he had five rebounds, five assists, one steal and one blocked shot.

Scouting Charlotte

The Hornets are 13^th in the Eastern Conference. They are 6 ½ games behind the Brooklyn Nets for the final play-in spot in the East.

Ball has appeared in 15 games this season, averaging 24.7 points, 5.5 rebounds and 8.2 assists. Terry Rozier is averaging 24.3 points, 3.8 rebounds and 7.2 assists. Miles Bridges averages 20.6 points and 7.0 rebounds.

Hayward (14.5 ppg), Brandon Miller (14.3 ppg), Washington (13.0 ppg) and Williams (12.7 ppg) are also scoring in double figures. The Hornets will be missing four of their seven leading scorers if Washington is unable to play.

Ruled out

▪ The Hornets have ruled out Martin and Washington.

▪ The Kings are listing Kessler Edwards as inactive.

Kings at Hornets

When: 4 p.m.

Where: Spectrum Center

TV: NBC Sports California

Radio: Sactown Sports 1140

Odds: Kings -6.5

Over/under: 234.5

Injury report

Kings: OUT — Kessler Edwards (inactive); Jordan Ford (G League); Jalen Slawson (G League).

Hornets: QUESTIONABLE — Cody Martin (groin). DOUBTFUL — P.J. Washington (foot). OUT — LaMelo Ball (ankle); Gordon Hayward (calf); Frank Ntilikina (tibia); Mark Williams (back).

Upcoming schedule

Jan. 10 at Charlotte Hornets

Jan. 12 at Philadelphia 76ers

Jan. 14 at Milwaukee Bucks

Jan. 16 at Phoenix Suns

Jan. 18 vs. Indiana Pacers