Kings vs. Pistons gameday: Cade Cunningham, Trey Lyles injury updates; scouting reports

The Kings will try to bounce back from one of their worst losses of the season when they open a five-game road trip against the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday at Little Caesars Arena.

The Kings (21-14) trailed by 50 in a 133-100 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday in Sacramento. It was their 10^th double-digit loss of the season and their fifth loss by 20 points or more.

The Pistons (3-33) have lost four in a row since snapping their NBA record-tying 28-game losing streak. They have lost 32 of 33 since going 2-1 to start the season.

The Kings are listing Trey Lyles as questionable due to a right ankle sprain. Lyles was held out of Sunday’s game against the Pelicans after sustaining the injury in Friday’s win over the Toronto Raptors.

The Pistons have ruled out Cade Cunningham (left knee strain), Monte Morris (right quadriceps strain) and Isaiah Stewart (right big toe sprain). Cunningham left Sunday’s game against the Denver Nuggets in the second quarter and did not return.

Cunningham, the No. 1 pick in the 2021 NBA draft, underwent an MRI on Monday. He will be reevaluated in seven to 10 days.

Cunningham leads the Pistons in scoring and assists. He is averaging 22.8 points, 4.1 rebounds and 7.3 assists.

Scouting Sacramento

The Kings are fifth in the Western Conference, one game behind the Los Angeles Clippers for the No. 4 seed and four games behind the conference-leading Minnesota Timberwolves. The Kings are eighth in the NBA in scoring (117.7 ppg) and 22^nd in scoring defense (118.0 ppg).

De’Aaron Fox is averaging 28.3 points, 4.4 rebound, 6.0 assists and 1.6 steals. He was held to a season-low three points on 1-of-10 shooting in Sunday’s loss to the Pelicans. Fox hasn’t been listed on the team’s injury report, but he appeared to be dealing with a variety of aches and pains while making 17 of 52 (.327) from the field and 2 of 12 (.167) from 3-point range over the past three games.

Domantas Sabonis is averaging 19.7 points, 12.8 rebounds and 7.6 assists. Keegan Murray (15.4 ppg), Malik Monk (14.7 ppg) and Harrison Barnes (11.4 ppg) are also scoring in double figures.

Scouting Detroit

The Pistons are last in the Eastern Conference, 12 ½ games behind the Brooklyn Nets for the final play-in spot and 25 games back of the conference-leading Boston Celtics.

The Pistons are 25^th in the NBA in scoring (111.5 ppg) and 26^th in scoring defense (122.6 ppg). Their point differential (-11.1) is the second-worst in the NBA.

With Cunningham out, the Pistons will rely heavily on Bojan Bogdanovic, Jalen Duren and Jaden Ivey for scoring. Bogdanovic is averaging 19.5 points per game. Duren averages 13.5 points and 11.4 rebounds. Ivey is averaging 12.9 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3.2 assists.

Former Kings forward Marvin Bagley III has appeared in 25 games with 10 starts this season. He is averaging 10.2 points and 4.6 rebounds while shooting 58.9% from the field.

Back in black

Team photos from Detroit showed Kings guard Kevin Huerter in a black practice jersey Monday, indicating a possible return to the starting lineup. Huerter scored 17 points on 6-of-10 shooting in Sunday’s blowout loss to the Pelicans, playing hard to the end despite the lopsided score.

Cleared to return

The Kings announced that Lyles has been cleared to return and will be available against the Pistons after missing Sunday’s game with an ankle injury.

Starters

During his pregame news conference, Kings coach Mike Brown confirmed Huerter will be back in the starting lineup for Tuesday’s game against the Pistons.

Kings at Pistons

When: 4 p.m.

Where: Little Caesars Arena

TV: NBC Sports California

Radio: Sactown Sports 1140

Odds: Kings -10.5

Over/under: 242.5

Injury report

Kings: QUESTIONABLE — Trey Lyles (ankle). OUT — Jordan Ford (G League); Jalen Slawson (G League).

Pistons: OUT — Malcolm Cazalon (G League); Cade Cunningham (knee); Monte Morris (quad); Jared Rhoden (G League); Isaiah Stewart (toe); Stanley Umude (G League).

Upcoming schedule

Jan. 9 at Detroit Pistons

Jan. 10 at Charlotte Hornets

Jan. 12 at Philadelphia 76ers

Jan. 14 at Milwaukee Bucks

Jan. 16 at Phoenix Suns