In a crucial Western Conference battle, two forwards face off as the race for the postseason continues for the Kings against the Clippers.

Murray racked up 19 points (7-14 FG, 3-7 3Pt, 2-2 FT), nine rebounds, one assist and two blocks over 35 minutes during Friday's 127-109 win over San Antonio. Murray and DeMar DeRozan have stepped up during Domantas Sabonis' (hamstring) absence.

Former Iowa Hawkeyes star Keegan Murray was widely viewed as a potential breakout candidate heading into the 2024-25 NBA campaign, but if anything, the Sacramento Kings forward has taken a step back this year.

The Sacramento Kings got another shot at the LA Clippers on Sunday. Sacramento, 0-2 in the season series against LA, hoped to break through in their third meeting despite missing Domantas Sabonis and Malik Monk. DeMar DeRozan, Keegan Murray and Zach LaVine led the Doug Christie-coached team on the road.

A foot injury forced Kings forward Keegan Murray to miss two games in early January, but that might have been a blessing in disguise.

The frustration comes after the Kings put together one of their best defensive efforts in recent memory. They created a unique game plan to slow three-time MVP Nikola Jokic, using forwards Keegan Murray and Jake LaRavia to guard the 6-foot-11 center, while Jonas Valanciunas clogged the lane to prevent drivers to the basket.

Keegan Murray scored a season-high 26 points and Zach LaVine added 22 to lift the hot-shooting Sacramento Kings to a 118-101 win over the Utah Jazz.

Nikola Jokic had 22 points and 14 rebounds, Russell Westbrook scored 25 points, and the Denver Nuggets rallied in the fourth quarter to beat the Sacramento Kings 116-110.Jamal Murray scored 24 points for Denver,

Change. After a 13-18 start, ownership fired head coach Mike Brown, who had led the team since 2022, the year the Kings drafted ex-Iowa and Cedar Rapids Prairie standout Keegan Murray fourth overall. Brown also won NBA Coach of the Year in 2023.

The explosive guard received a mix of boos and love in his first game against the Kings since they traded him to the Spurs on Feb. 3.