The Kings are down a man in the frontcourt. Forward Jason Thompson will miss the next three games because of a cut on his right ring finger and then be re-evaluated.
Thompson was injured in the fourth quarter of Friday's loss at Oklahoma City and received seven stitches.
"I went for a block and got my finger sliced in between the rim and the backboard,"
Thompson said. "I thought it was just bleeding but then they opened it up and I could see things that weren't too pretty."
Thompson started the past 10 games at power forward after having a reduced role to begin the season.
He prides himself on his durability and said the injury has to be serious to keep him out.
"It's my shooting hand, too,"
Thompson said.
Thompson was playing his best since becoming a starter again. He averages 10.5 points and 7.3 rebounds as a starter compared to five points and 4.4 rebounds as a reserve.
More injuries – Center DeMarcus Cousins did not practice Saturday because of a sore ankle and sore wrists.
Cousins, however, is expected to play today against Houston.
"(The wrists have) been bothering him a little bit,"
said Kings coach Paul Westphal. "I don't think that would keep him out. I think the foot had a little swelling in there."
Cousins had a season-high 16 rebounds against Oklahoma City along with 19 points.
Lineup shuffling – Injuries could force the Kings to further alter their starting lineup.
Westphal said that if Cousins plays as expected, he would start Darnell Jackson at power forward. If Cousins doesn't play, the Kings would start Samuel Dalembert at center and Carl Landry at power forward.
Starting Jackson would put a physical defender next to Cousins. Dalembert's defensive prowess would be coupled with Landry, one of the Kings' primary options on offense.
