Kings vs. Suns gameday: Scouting reports, news and injury updates on Monk, Beal, Nurkic

The Kings might not be at full strength when they play host to the Phoenix Suns on Friday night at Golden 1 Center, but the Suns will be shorthanded, too.

The Kings (16-10) are listing Malik Monk and JaVale McGee as questionable due to injuries. Monk has been dealing with right foot irritation the past few days. McGee showed up on the injury report Thursday with right wrist irritation. The Kings are already missing another backup center, Alex Len, who has been sidelined with a high right ankle sprain.

Monk was cleared to play after being listed as questionable for Wednesday’s 144-119 loss to the Boston Celtics. He had 10 points and five assists in 25 minutes, going 3 of 10 from the field and 0 of 4 from 3-point range.

The Suns (14-13) are coming off a 109-104 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers despite a 40-point game from Kevin Durant. Bradley Beal is out again, this time with a right ankle sprain. Jusuf Nurkic has been ruled out due to personal reasons.

Scouting Sacramento

The Kings were playing well before getting blown out by the Celtics. They had won three in a row and eight of 11 to move seven games over .500.

Sacramento is fourth in the Western Conference, 4 ½ games behind the conference-leading Minnesota Timberwolves (21-6). The Kings will face the Timberwolves on Saturday on the second night of a back-to-back.

Kings coach Mike Brown was disappointed in his team’s performance against the Celtics, calling it a “good old-fashioned butt kicking.” Brown talked about physicality, leadership and accountability after the game.

“Sooner or later, somebody’s got to get tired of it and say something and look guys in the eyes and try to hold them accountable,” Brown said. “That’s what I tried to do and it didn’t work, so we just traded baskets from that point on until they created some separation.”

Fox is averaging 30.1 points, 4.4 rebounds, 6.2 assists and 1.2 steals. Domantas Sabonis averages 18.7 points, 12.2 rebounds and 7.2 assists. The Kings have four other double-figure scorers in Keegan Murray (15.8 ppg), Monk (14.6 ppg), Harrison Barnes (11.5 ppg) and Kevin Huerter (11.0 ppg).

Scouting Phoenix

The Suns are ninth in the West. They have lost three of their last four games and seven of 10 dating back to Nov. 29, including a 114-106 loss to the Kings on Dec. 8 in Phoenix.

Durant is averaging 31.0 points per game, 6.1 rebounds and 5.6 assists. Devin Booker averages 27.9 points 5.6 rebounds and 8.2 assists. Beal is averaging 14.7 points, 3.3 rebounds and 3.2 assists, but he has only appeared in six games for the Suns due to injuries.

Durant and Booker are superstars, but the Suns won’t be the same without Nurkic. The 7-foot-tall, 290-pound center is averaging 12.1 points, 10.3 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.2 blocks.

Other key plays for the Suns include Eric Gordon (13.8 ppg) and Grayson Allen (12.2 ppg). With Nurkic out, the Suns will likely start Drew Eubanks at center. Eubanks, a 6-10, 245-pound power forward, averages 6.5 points and 4.4 rebounds.

Suns at Kings

When: 7 p.m.

Where: Golden 1 Center

TV: NBC Sports California

Radio: Sactown Sports 1140

Odds: Kings -3.5

Over/under: 245.5

Injury report

Suns: QUESTIONABLE — Josh Okogie (hip). OUT — Bradley Beal (ankle); Damion Lee (knee); Jusuf Nurkic (personal).

Kings: QUESTIONABLE — JaVale McGee (wrist); Malik Monk (foot). OUT — Jordan Ford (G League); Colby Jones (G League); Alex Len (ankle); Jalen Slawson (G League).

Upcoming schedule

Dec. 22 vs. Phoenix Suns

Dec. 23 vs. Minnesota Timberwolves

Dec. 26 at Portland Trail Blazers

Dec. 29 at Atlanta Hawks

Dec. 31 at Memphis Grizzlies