Kings to Finalize Starting Lineup for Wednesday Opener

The Sacramento Kings announced their starters for the October 23 game against the Clippers following a key roster injury.

Updated on Oct. 22, 2026 in Basketball

Kings to Finalize Starting Lineup for Wednesday Opener

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Do you feel confident in your local team's current starting lineup for this season?

The Sacramento Kings will deploy a starting lineup of Darius Acuff Jr., Zach LaVine, De'Andre Hunter, Keegan Murray, and Domantas Sabonis for the season opener on October 23, 2026. This rotation follows a season-ending injury sustained by Ben Simmons three days prior to the game.

Why it matters

The lineup shift comes after three-time All-Star Ben Simmons suffered a season-ending injury just days before the team's opening night matchup against the L.A. Clippers. The team has opted to return to its initial rotation plan in the wake of the news.

De'Andre Hunter heads into the season opener after averaging 3.0 points and 2.3 rebounds over 17.5 minutes during the preseason. He shot 21.1% from the field across those four exhibition games.

The players

Sacramento Kings

The Sacramento Kings are a professional basketball team competing in the National Basketball Association's Pacific Division.

Ben Simmons

Ben Simmons is a professional basketball player and a three-time All-Star who previously played for the Philadelphia 76ers and Brooklyn Nets.

De'Andre Hunter

De'Andre Hunter is a professional basketball player who serves as a key wing rotation piece for the Sacramento Kings.

The details

The Kings are moving forward with their planned starting core of Acuff Jr., LaVine, Hunter, Murray, and Sabonis. The organization finalized this decision three days after the injury to Simmons, which effectively forced a pivot in the team's early-season strategy.

October 20, 2026: Ben Simmons sustained a season-ending injury three days before the season opener.
October 23, 2026: The Sacramento Kings face the L.A. Clippers in the opening night game.

Season Trajectory

This roster move forces the Kings to immediately adjust their rotation depth to cover for the loss of a major starter. The team's performance against the Clippers will determine how effectively they can maintain their playoff standing without Simmons.

Fantasy basketball managers should monitor the usage rates for De'Andre Hunter and Zach LaVine, as both players face increased responsibility in the starting rotation. The injury to Ben Simmons creates a significant vacancy in the team's distribution and defensive metrics.

The takeaway

The sudden loss of a veteran player forces the coaching staff to lean heavily on the remaining starters during the first week of competition. Fantasy observers and fans should track field goal percentage shifts in the starting lineup to gauge team efficiency.