Sacramento Kings

Doug Christie wants the Kings to stop settling for early mid-range shots, and players at Sacramento's media availability agreed: "We waste them sometimes for sure... we agree with him for sure." Asked if Ben Simmons' injury looked bad at once: "we keep that in-house."

From Sacramento's media availability, on Ben Simmons' injury: "It changes a lot... He can do everything 1 through 5." The Kings lose his fast breaks off rebounds and a defender who can guard anyone. Players called him their leader and said they will play for him.

Darius Acuff Jr. is the lone inexperienced player in the Sacramento Kings' first lineup. Zach LaVine called him a gifted, high-IQ point guard whose preseason mixed uncertain moments with dominant ones: "Darius has been good... And then things where he's dominating."

Zach LaVine on the Sacramento Kings' starters barely playing together in preseason: "it sucks." Doug Christie: "it took the last game to finally see a unit out there that you can see hitting the court." Asked if that group starts the season, he said: "we'll have to see."

Maxime Raynaud isn't available for the Sacramento Kings, and Domantas Sabonis tied that to how the frontcourt is being covered. Asked about Precious Achiuwa playing center and the team leaning on Ben Simmons, he said: "we don't have Max, you know."

Domantas Sabonis says there was no setback: the Kings kept his preseason light on purpose, playing the first and last games without extra load after eight months away. "Everything's good. It's just... playing it smart." He says he feels good after about 30 minutes in the finale.

Keegan Murray played 19 minutes in the Kings' Oct. 13 preseason game, and Doug Christie said he is still finding his legs at both ends of the floor as Sacramento brings him back slowly: "19 minutes for him as we build him up is good."

Emanuel Sharp drew extended minutes against top guards for the Kings, and Doug Christie told him to stay physical through foul trouble: "I went to him and I said, do not back up. You gotta figure it out." He said Sharp's physical style sets the tone for the team.

The Kings rested Ben Simmons to manage his soreness and workload. Doug Christie: "There's a bigger picture here, and that picture is for him to be available for 82 games in the regular season." No commitment on his next step: "We'll see what's happening in the morning."

Precious Achiuwa left the Kings' Oct. 13 preseason game with an ankle injury and was icing it afterward. Doug Christie gave no status: "I saw him just ice and... talked to him for a second. But we'll see... how it goes and how he feels."

Asked if he was limping, the Kings' Emanuel Sharp shrugged off the knocks: "So it ain't nothing new. ... But I'm good." Nor is he fazed by Damian Lillard, Ja Morant or Jrue Holiday: "I'm not looking at these guys intimidated or anything." He credits Doug Christie for that.

Emanuel Sharp "earned his minutes" and "played really well," Sacramento Kings coach Doug Christie said, with Malik Monk's preseason absence a possible opening. Christie gave no timeline for Monk: "I'm hoping to get him back... but we're going to play who's on the floor."

De'Andre Hunter has played one game as a King and is still working off rust, Doug Christie said, but "DeAndre has been great." Christie likes him with Precious Achiuwa at center, Ben Simmons and Keegan Murray: "it's beautiful because you have the ability to switch."

Keegan Murray says he isn't at 100% yet after his first game action in nine months: "I think I can get there before the regular season." The Kings forward says the ankle that kept him out of practice much of last year is good now, and he'll "slowly ramp up my minutes."

Darius Acuff Jr., asked if he was limping after the final play: "No, I just got hit a little bit. I'm good though." The Kings rookie wished he'd played more, and with Ben Simmons handling the ball he's happy to play off it: "I don't mind doing that at all."

Keegan Murray is back for Sacramento. "Really happy to see Keegan back out there striding down to the corners and running the floor," Doug Christie said. On Maxime Raynaud, who went down, Christie wouldn't speak until results are in: "We'll see what the doc comes back with."

Sacramento's Ben Simmons played under 9 minutes in his first game in a year, which he said was planned as part of a buildup. He feels great. Asked about ramping him up over the next two preseason games, coach Doug Christie didn't commit: a group decision made with Simmons.

A young Kings player went down holding his knee, and Zach LaVine wouldn't guess how bad: "The way he grabbed his knee, obviously I don't want to put anything out there." Ben Simmons and Keegan Murray made preseason debuts; LaVine said Simmons looked healthy all camp.

Darius Acuff Jr., 19, already has Zach LaVine expecting defenses to key on him: "there's going to be games where they're going to be loading up on me or him." LaVine on the Kings rookie's scoring: "You don't average 25 in college for no reason. Kid can score."

Darius Acuff Jr. won't always have to handle the ball, Kings coach Doug Christie said. More ball handlers let him attack once the ball swings to the other side: "Now you can get him on second sides with a live dribble, and that changes the game."

Nique Clifford is "not a point guard," Kings coach Doug Christie said — he's a secondary ball handler who can make plays in pick and roll, but his priority is to defend, rebound and communicate. Asked if Ben Simmons, Malik Monk and Keegan Murray play next, Christie didn't commit.

Nique Clifford ran more point guard in the Kings' preseason-opening loss to the Lakers, with Ben Simmons and Malik Monk out. He said he'd played point one day in camp, called too many plays and needs to attack off the dribble more: "it's a learning process."

"I don't think I've dunked one time in training camp yet." Former dunk contest champion Zach LaVine of the Sacramento Kings says he "can't do that no more" but promised he'll "get some during preseason."