The Sacramento Kings host the Portland Trail Blazers in the NBA Regular Season on Friday, October 23, 2026, at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento. Tip-off is scheduled for 10 p.m. ET (7 p.m. local time at the arena), with live broadcast coverage available across Rip City TV (KUNP / KUNSDT2), NBC Sports California (NBCS-CA), NBA League Pass, BlazerVision, Peacock, and Fubo.
The matchup pits two Western Conference franchises coming off opposite results in their season openers on Wednesday (21). The Portland Trail Blazers enter the contest with a 1-0 record after defeating the Phoenix Suns 124-83, while the Sacramento Kings hold a 0-1 mark following a 121-96 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers. In the most recent meeting between the two teams during the preseason on October 13, 2026, the Portland Trail Blazers defeated the Sacramento Kings 110-98.
Where to watch Sacramento Kings vs Portland Trail Blazers live
Fans in the United States can follow the broadcast of the game across six television and digital platforms:
- Rip City TV (KUNP / KUNSDT2): over-the-air TV
- NBC Sports California (NBCS-CA): cable TV
- NBA League Pass: pay-per-view
- BlazerVision: streaming
- Peacock: streaming
- Fubo: streaming
Start time and venue for Sacramento Kings vs Portland Trail Blazers
Check the official schedule and venue details for the Western Conference game:
- Date: Friday, October 23, 2026
- Time: 10 p.m. ET (7 p.m. local time at the arena, America/Los_Angeles)
- Venue: Golden 1 Center, in Sacramento
- Competition: NBA (North American basketball league) — Regular Season
Read also: Portland Trail Blazers vs Phoenix Suns: where to watch live and start time (NBA, Oct 21)
How the Sacramento Kings arrive
Coached by Doug Christie in the 2026-27 season, the Sacramento Kings seek their first victory after dropping the opener 121-96 to the Los Angeles Clippers. In that opening contest, shooting guard Zach LaVine scored 28.0 points, center Domantas Sabonis recorded 18.0 rebounds and 8 assists, and rookie point guard Darius Acuff Jr. converted 5 of 24 field goal attempts.
Addressing the team’s approach after the opening loss, Doug Christie emphasized focus on execution. “Attention to detail and the game plan discipline. We gotta be disciplined about the things that we work on, the things we talk about. And then we’ve got to go execute them on the floor. But it’s game one. We don’t panic, we get right back to it,” Doug Christie said.
The probable starting lineup for the Sacramento Kings features Darius Acuff Jr. (point guard), Zach LaVine (shooting guard), De’Andre Hunter (small forward), Keegan Murray (power forward), and Domantas Sabonis (center). For the medical report, the confirmed absences are point guard/forward Ben Simmons (out for the season with an Achilles tendon injury), Maxime Raynaud (out with a knee injury), and Dylan Cardwell (out with a calf injury). Shooting guard Malik Monk deals with an ankle issue and has his status listed between day-to-day and probable.
How the Portland Trail Blazers arrive
Under head coach Micah Nori, who was hired for the 2026-27 campaign, the Portland Trail Blazers opened the season with a 124-83 win over the Phoenix Suns. The game marked the return of point guard Damian Lillard to the franchise after nearly 18 months away from the court due to a severe Achilles tendon injury suffered in the 2025 playoffs. Damian Lillard led the scoring with 25.0 points, including 6 three-pointers.
“It was a great way to start this chapter for our team. We shared the ball, we played together,” Damian Lillard stated after the opener. The roster also features point guard Ja Morant, acquired from the Memphis Grizzlies during the offseason, who tallied 14 points and 8 assists against the Phoenix Suns. “He’s competing at the highest level now, because he knows he’s on a team that has a chance to win a lot of basketball games. He’s a very good passer as we saw,” Micah Nori said regarding Ja Morant. Also in the opener, power forward Deni Avdija registered 18 points and 10 rebounds, small forward Toumani Camara scored 18 points, Scoot Henderson added 15 points off the bench, and center Donovan Clingan contributed 11 points and 7 rebounds.
The probable starting lineup for the Portland Trail Blazers consists of Damian Lillard (point guard), Ja Morant (shooting guard), Toumani Camara (small forward), Deni Avdija (power forward), and Donovan Clingan (center). On the injury report, shooting guard Shaedon Sharpe is ruled out with a meniscus injury in his knee. Branden Carlson (concussion protocol) and Chris Youngblood (ankle) are also listed on the medical report, while Deni Avdija (ankle) and Micah Potter (illness) are listed as questionable.
Read also: San Antonio Spurs vs Oklahoma City Thunder: where to watch live and start time (NBA, Oct 20)
Officiating for Sacramento Kings vs Portland Trail Blazers
The officiating crew for the game has not yet been announced, as the NBA releases the official referee assignments only hours before tip-off on game day.
Head-to-head history between Sacramento Kings and Portland Trail Blazers
Prior to the 110-98 preseason victory by the Portland Trail Blazers on October 13, 2026, the Oregon franchise dominated the head-to-head series during the previous regular season (2025-26). The Portland Trail Blazers won all four regular-season matchups against the Sacramento Kings to complete a 4-0 series sweep, including a 117-110 win in January 2026 and a 122-110 victory on April 12, 2026.
