Kings vs. Pacers gameday: Haliburton injury updates, Siakam trade and scouting reports

Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton appears to be ahead of schedule in his recovery from a left hamstring strain. The 23-year-old All-Star was initially expected to miss a minimum of two weeks, but he could return as early as Thursday when the Pacers face his former team at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento.

The Kings (23-17) made a blockbuster trade with the Pacers in February 2022, sending Haliburton and Buddy Hield to Indiana in the deal that brought Domantas Sabonis to Sacramento. The Pacers (23-17) made another big trade Wednesday when they acquired Pascal Siakam from the Toronto Raptors.

Siakam is unlikely to play against the Kings, but Haliburton might. The Pacers upgraded him to questionable on their injury report Wednesday. Bennedict Mathurin (ankle), Aaron Nesmith (tibia) and Obi Toppin (calf) are also questionable.

Haliburton has missed the past five games since suffering the hamstring injury in a win over the Boston Celtics on Jan. 8. The Pacers are 2-3 during his absence.

Scouting Sacramento

The Kings are sixth in the Western Conference, six games behind the conference-leading Minnesota Timberwolves. They lost three in a row to the Philadelphia 76ers, Milwaukee Bucks and Phoenix Suns to end a five-game road trip with a 2-3 record.

De’Aaron Fox is averaging 28.0 points, 4.1 rebounds and 5.8 assists for the Kings. Sabonis is averaging 20.1 points, 12.7 rebounds and 7.9 assists with nine of his 11 triple-doubles coming in the past 16 games.

Keegan Murray (15.9 ppg), Malik Monk (15.3 ppg) and Harrison Barnes (10.8 ppg) are also scoring in double figures for Sacramento. Kevin Huerter (9.9 ppg) had 26 points against the Bucks and 10 against the Suns, going a combined 14 of 23 from the field and 8 of 15 from 3-point range.

Scouting Indiana

The Pacers are seventh in the Eastern Conference, a half-game behind the Miami Heat for the final automatic playoff bid in the East. They won their first two games without Haliburton but have since lost three in a row to the Denver Nuggets, Utah Jazz and Los Angeles Lakers, all by double-digit margins.

Haliburton is averaging 23.6 points, 4.2 rebounds and 12.5 assists. Myles Turner averages 17.2 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.9 blocks. Bennedict Mathurin (14.6 ppg), Hield (12.7 ppg), Nesmith (11.8 ppg), Toppin (11.6 ppg) and Jalen Smith (10.1 ppg) are also scoring in double figures.

The Pacers are No. 1 in the NBA in scoring at 125.6 points per game. They are 29^th in scoring defense, allowing 123.5 points per game.

Status updates

Marc Spears of ESPN’s Andscape reports Haliburton will not suit up and Siakam won’t make his Pacers debut in Thursday’s game against the Kings. Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said Siakam will join the team at some point during its current road trip.

Kings at Suns

When: 7 p.m.

Where: Golden 1 Center

TV: NBC Sports California

Radio: Sactown Sports 1140

Odds: Kings -7.5

Over/under: 245.5

Injury report

Pacers: QUESTIONABLE — Kendall Brown (G League); Tyrese Haliburton (hamstring); Bennedict Mathurin (ankle); Aaron Nesmith (tibia); Obi Toppin (calf); Oscar Tshiebwe (G League); Isaiah Wong (G League). OUT — Pascal Siakam (not with team).

Kings: None

Upcoming schedule

Jan. 18 vs. Indiana Pacers

Jan. 22 vs. Atlanta Hawks

Jan. 25 at Golden State Warriors

Jan. 27 at Dallas Mavericks

Jan. 29 at Mempis Grizzlies