This Eastern vs. Western Conference matchup features a struggling Sacramento Kings team on a road slide against a strong New York Knicks squad at home. The Kings, one of the league’s worst teams this season, face a tough challenge against the Knicks, who have been solid defensively and offensively at Madison Square Garden.
Event Details
Venue: Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 PM ET (4:30 PM PT)
Broadcast/Streaming: MSG Networks (local NY), NBCS-CA (local Sacramento), NBA League Pass, SiriusXM/880 AM ESPN radio
Injury Report
Sacramento Kings:
Zach LaVine: Questionable (Lower body injury/illness)
Malik Monk: Questionable (Right ankle soreness)
Various G-League/two-way players (e.g., Daeqwon Plowden, Isaiah Stevens): Out
The Kings are dealing with backcourt uncertainty, which could further weaken their already struggling offense if LaVine and Monk are limited or out.
New York Knicks:
Trey Jemison III: Questionable (G League two-way)
Other potential updates on Karl-Anthony Towns (recent knee/quad issues mentioned in reports, but likely available)
The Knicks are relatively healthy for a home game, with no major stars ruled out in recent reports. Their depth should give them an edge.
Key Player Matchups
Guard Play: New York’s Jalen Brunson (elite scorer, recent 31-point games) vs. Sacramento’s Dennis Schröder or backups if Malik Monk/Zach LaVine are limited. Brunson’s playmaking and scoring should exploit the Kings’ poor perimeter defense.
Wing/Forward Battle: Knicks’ forwards (e.g., OG Anunoby or others) vs. Kings’ DeMar DeRozan/Keegan Murray. DeRozan could provide scoring if healthy, but Knicks’ length and defense may limit him.
Frontcourt: Kings’ Domantas Sabonis (rebounding and passing hub) vs. Knicks’ Karl-Anthony Towns or Isaiah Hartenstein-style bigs. Sabonis has size advantage, but Knicks’ interior defense ranks well.
Key X-Factor: If LaVine and Monk play, Kings gain scoring punch; otherwise, New York’s balanced attack (led by Brunson) dominates. Knicks’ home defense (strong in recent wins) vs. Kings’ league-worst defense (121.2 PPG allowed).
Recent Team Form
Sacramento Kings: In a deep slump, on a five-game losing streak. Most recent: 116-139 loss at Detroit Pistons (January 25, 2026). Offense averages 111 PPG (bottom-tier), defense allows 121.2 PPG (near league-worst). Road woes continue (3-19 away), with poor shooting and turnovers plaguing them.
New York Knicks: Solid momentum, coming off a 112-109 road win at Philadelphia 76ers (January 24, 2026). Strong home record (17-6), averaging 117.8 PPG scored and 113.7 allowed (top-10 defense). They excel in close games and have won convincingly as favorites.
Series History
All-time regular season: The teams have played around 312 games, with the Kings holding a slight edge (159-153). Recent seasons have seen competitive games, but Knicks have dominated at home in matchups against struggling teams. Historically close rivalry, but current form heavily favors New York.
Betting Trends
Knicks are 25-13 as moneyline favorites and have won all games at -662 or shorter (86.9% implied win probability). Kings are 1-4 as big underdogs (+476 or more). Knicks strong ATS when scoring high (11-5 ATS over 121.2 points) and holding opponents under 111 (12-1 ATS). Total trends toward under in Knicks’ defensive games, but Kings’ poor defense could push scoring.
Game Odds
Sacramento Kings 231.5
New York Knicks – 13.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Monday, January 26, 2026
