Kings vs. Nuggets: De’Aaron Fox injury; Western Conference playoff race; scouting reports

The Kings have a chance to complete a season sweep of the defending NBA champion Denver Nuggets on Wednesday at Ball Arena, but they might be missing one of their best players.

The Kings (33-24) are listing All-NBA point guard De’Aaron Fox as questionable due to a left knee contusion. Fox came up limping when he knocked knees with another player in the first quarter of Monday’s 121-110 loss to the Miami Heat.

Fox was clearly in some discomfort, but he remained in the game. He finished with 27 points, eight rebounds, six assists and three steals but committed seven turnovers.

Fox was a full participant in Wednesday’s morning shootaround. He was seen shooting with a sleeve on his left leg.

The Nuggets (39-19) are in almost perfect health. Vlatko Cancar has been out all season after undergoing left knee surgery over the summer. Hunter Tyson, a rookie forward who has only appeared in nine games this season, is questionable due to a sprained finger.

Sacramento is 3-0 against Denver this season. The Kings beat the Nuggets 123-117 on Dec. 2, 135-106 on Feb. 9 and 102-98 on Feb. 14.

Scouting Sacramento

Sacramento is seventh in the Western Conference, a half-game behind the Phoenix Suns for the No. 6 seed.

The Kings picked up one of their biggest wins of the year on Sunday, going on the road to beat the Los Angeles Clippers 123-107 at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. However, they followed that performance with Monday’s loss to a depleted Miami team that was missing Jimmy Butler, Terry Rozier, Tyler Herro and several other players.

Fox is averaging 26.9 points, 4.2 rebounds, 5.6 assists and 1.9 steals. Domantas Sabonis averages 20.0 points, 13.2 rebounds and 8.5 assists.

Sabonis leads the league in rebounding, double-doubles (53) and triple-doubles (21). He has recorded 40 consecutive double-doubles. He is one of 10 players in NBA history to post 40 consecutive double-doubles in a single season, joining Wilt Chamberlain, Elvin Hayes, Moses Malone, Walt Bellamy, Bob Pettit, Elgin Baylor, Jerry Lucas, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Kevin Love.

Sixth Man of the Year candidate Malik Monk (15.1 ppg), Keegan Murray (15.0 ppg), Harrison Barnes (12.2 ppg) and Kevin Huerter (11.1 ppg) are also scoring in double figures for Sacramento.

Scouting Denver

Denver is third in the West, 1 ½ games behind the Minnesota Timberwolves and Oklahoma City Thunder.

The Nuggets have won three in a row since the All-Star break, beating the Washington Wizards 130-110, the Portland Trail Blazers 127-112 and the Golden State Warriors 119-103.

Two-time MVP Nikola Jokic is averaging 26.1 points, 12.3 rebounds and 9.3 assists while shooting 58.3% from the field and 35.1% from 3-point range. Jamal Murray averages 20.6 points, 3.9 rebounds and 6.4 assists while shooting 41% from beyond the arc.

Michael Porter Jr. is averaging 16.2 points and 7.1 rebounds while shooting 47.3% from the field and 39.1% from 3-point range on 6.9 attempts per game. Aaron Gordon (13.8 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 3.1 apg), Reggie Jackson (10.7 ppg, 3.9 apg) and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (9.9 ppg) are also playing key roles for the Nuggets.

Ruled out

Fox has been ruled out for Wednesday’s game against the Nuggets, a league source tells The Sacramento Bee’s Chris Biderman. Kings coach Mike Brown will likely start Davion Mitchell in Fox’s place.

Kings at Nuggets

When: 6 p.m.

Where: Ball Arena

TV: NBC Sports California

Radio: Sactown Sports 1140

Odds: Nuggets -7.5

Over/under: 230.5

Injury report

Kings: QUESTIONABLE — De’Aaron Fox (knee). OUT — Jordan Ford (G League); Colby Jones (G League); Jalen Slawson (G League); Sasha Vezenkov (ankle).

Nuggets: QUESTIONABLE — Hunter Tyson (finger). OUT — Vlatko Cancar (knee).

Upcoming schedule

Feb. 28 at Denver Nuggets

March 1 at Minnesota Timberwolves

March 4 vs. Chicago Bulls

March 6 at Los Angeles Lakers

March 7 vs. San Antonio Spurs