The Sacramento Kings (6-19) venture north to confront the Minnesota Timberwolves (16-9) in a mismatch where the Wolves’ elite defense meets Sacramento’s sputtering offense amid a brutal road skid. Minnesota, riding a three-game win streak, eyes a statement victory at home to solidify their Western Conference perch, while the Kings—winless in their last eight—grapple with key absences and desperation for a spark. This afternoon battle could highlight the Wolves’ paint dominance, potentially turning into a low-possession grind. Tip-off is set for 5:00 p.m. ET from Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The 18,024-seat arena, opened in 1990 and renovated in 2017, remains a daunting venue for visitors, where Minnesota sports a 9-4 home record and ranks No. 1 in opponent points per game at home (102.3).
Broadcast options include NBC Sports California (for Kings fans) and FanDuel Sports Network North, with streaming on NBA League Pass.
Team Records and Standings
| Team | Overall Record | Home/Away Split | Western Conference Rank | ATS Record |
| Sacramento Kings | 6-19 | 4-9 Home / 2-10 Away | 14th | 8-17 |
| Minnesota Timberwolves | 16-9 | 9-4 Home / 7-5 Away | 3rd | 13-11-1 |
Sacramento anchors the West’s bottom, with their six wins confined to early-season flukes. The Timberwolves thrive in contention, blending top-tier D (No. 2 in defensive rating) with opportunistic scoring.
Recent Team Forms
The Kings’ collapse continues, averaging just 105.2 PPG on 44.1% FG in December, while Minnesota’s balanced attack (114.8 PPG) feasts on turnovers (14.2 forced per game). The Wolves enter red-hot post a dominant win over Denver.
Sacramento Kings Last 5 Games:
| Date | Opponent | Result | Key Stats (Kings) |
| Dec. 12 | @ POR | L 109-118 | 43.2% FG, 31.6% 3PT, 15 TOs |
| Dec. 7 | vs. OKC | L 102-112 | 41.8% FG, 28.9% 3PT, 13 TOs |
| Dec. 5 | @ GSW | L 114-128 | 45.6% FG, 35.7% 3PT, 16 TOs |
| Dec. 3 | vs. LAL | L 105-120 | 42.1% FG, 30.4% 3PT, 14 TOs |
| Dec. 1 | @ UTA | L 98-110 | 39.7% FG, 27.3% 3PT, 12 TOs |
Form Summary: 0-5. On an eight-game skid, yielding 117.6 PPG with rebounding woes (38.4 RPG). Perimeter defense leaks (39.2% opponent 3PT), and turnovers (14.0 per game) fuel foes’ transitions.
Minnesota Timberwolves Last 5 Games:
| Date | Opponent | Result | Key Stats (Timberwolves) |
| Dec. 12 | vs. DEN | W 113-107 | 47.9% FG, 36.8% 3PT, 11 TOs |
| Dec. 8 | @ MEM | W 118-104 | 50.2% FG, 41.2% 3PT, 9 TOs |
| Dec. 6 | vs. NOP | W 121-99 | 52.4% FG, 38.5% 3PT, 8 TOs |
| Dec. 4 | @ OKC | L 109-112 | 45.1% FG, 33.3% 3PT, 12 TOs |
| Dec. 2 | vs. CHI | W 133-93 | 55.6% FG, 45.5% 3PT, 7 TOs |
Form Summary: 4-1. Averaging 118.8 PPG while clamping at 103.0 PPG. Elite paint D (44.2% opponent FG inside) and fast breaks (15.6 PPG) dominate; Edwards’ scoring (28.4 PPG last 5) leads the charge.
Injury Report
Injuries exacerbate Sacramento’s woes, stripping their backcourt depth, while Minnesota’s frontcourt holds firm despite minor tweaks. The Kings miss their top playmaker, forcing over-reliance on inconsistent wings.
Sacramento Kings Injuries:
| Player | Status | Injury Details |
| De’Aaron Fox | Out | Right Hand Fracture |
| Kevin Huerter | Out | Left Achilles Tendonitis |
| Malik Monk | Out | Right Calf Strain |
| Keon Ellis | Out | G League Assignment |
| Colby Jones | Doubtful | Left Ankle Sprain |
Minnesota Timberwolves Injuries:
| Player | Status | Injury Details |
| Mike Conley | Out | Right Achilles Soreness |
| Terrence Shannon Jr. | Out | G League – Two-Way |
| Josh Minott | Questionable | Right Patella Tendonitis |
| Leonard Miller | Doubtful | G League Assignment |
Fox’s absence (26.6 PPG, 5.6 APG pre-injury) tanks Sacramento’s pace; Conley’s out (10.6 PPG, 5.8 APG) elevates McDaniels’ creation, but Minnesota’s depth (Edwards/Towns) mitigates it.
Key Player Matchups
Without Fox, Sacramento’s half-court offense stalls against Minnesota’s length (No. 1 in blocks). Edwards and Towns exploit mismatches for easy buckets.
Anthony Edwards (MIN, 26.9 PPG) vs. Keegan Murray (SAC, 15.2 PPG): Edwards’ explosion (40+ in 2/5 recent) overwhelms Murray’s D (1.0 SPG but undersized); Murray scores via spot-ups but fouls often. Edge: Edwards—30+ points, 4+ threes likely.
Domantas Sabonis (SAC, 19.4 PPG, 12.6 RPG) vs. Rudy Gobert (MIN, 14.0 PPG, 12.9 RPG): Sabonis’ passing (8.2 APG) tests Gobert’s help D; Gobert anchors paint (3.1 BPG last 5) but struggles on boards vs. Sabonis’ activity. Edge: Gobert—expect 15+ points, 12+ rebounds in home dominance.
Jaden McDaniels (MIN, 12.4 PPG, 2.7 SPG) vs. DeMar DeRozan (SAC, 22.1 PPG): McDaniels’ clamps (held foes under 20) frustrate DeRozan’s mid-range; DeRozan adapts but tires against length. Edge: McDaniels—over 2.5 steals.
Karl-Anthony Towns (MIN, 21.8 PPG, 8.3 RPG) vs. Alex Len (SAC, 8.9 PPG): Towns’ stretch-five game (2.4 threes/game) pulls Len out; Len protects rim (1.2 BPG) but lacks mobility. Edge: Towns—double-double with 25+ points.
Bonus Watch: Naz Reid (MIN bench) carves up reserves, potentially 15+ off the pine.
Series History
Minnesota edges the all-time series (68-65), but they’ve owned recent meetings, winning five of the last seven with stifling D. Last year’s sweep featured Edwards’ 30+ averages.
Last 5 Head-to-Head Meetings:
| Date | Result | Key Notes |
| Apr. 9, 2025 | MIN 118-103 @ SAC | Edwards 34 PTS; Wolves D holds Kings under 100 |
| Feb. 23, 2025 | MIN 124-111 vs. SAC | Towns 28 PTS, 10 REB |
| Jan. 18, 2025 | SAC 108-119 @ MIN | Gobert 16 REB; low TOs for MIN |
| Nov. 29, 2024 | MIN 127-117 @ SAC | McDaniels 4 STL; high pace |
| Oct. 25, 2024 | MIN 115-104 vs. SAC | Edwards 31 PTS in opener |
Trend: Wolves 5-0 SU in last 5, averaging 120.4 PPG. All five overs; Minnesota 4-1 ATS as favorites.
Betting Trends
Spread: Minnesota 8-3 ATS as 10+ home faves; Sacramento 4-6 ATS as 10+ road dogs.
Totals: Wolves games Under in 58% (11/19); Kings Over in 52% (12/25), but recent form leans Under.
Game Odds
Sacramento Kings 233.5
Minnesota Timberwolves – 11.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Saturday, December 13, 2025
