Kings Vs Mavericks: Westbrook ruled out before Thursday’s game in Dallas
Sacramento announced Russell Westbrook will not play in the kings vs mavericks matchup, a late injury development ahead of the 8: 30 p. m. ET Thursday tipoff in Dallas that strips the Kings of a veteran playmaker on the second night of a back-to-back.
Kings Vs Mavericks: Westbrook, Murray out; Monk questionable
The Kings’ injury report listed Russell Westbrook out with a right thigh contusion and Keegan Murray out with a left ankle sprain, while Malik Monk was listed as questionable with right ankle soreness; a tweet from Matt George on February 26, 2026 spelled out the designations: "Keegan Murray (left ankle sprain) and Russell Westbrook (right thigh contusion) are both OUT tonight in Dallas. Malik Monk (right ankle soreness) is questionable. "
Westbrook’s week: 22 points in Houston, then sidelined
The 37-year-old Westbrook delivered 22 points on 10-of-19 shooting with five rebounds and three assists in a 31-point road loss to the Houston Rockets on Wednesday, playing 25 minutes and committing two turnovers in that game; the Kings then announced he would be unavailable for Thursday’s game, marking the first time he has appeared on an injury report with a right thigh contusion and leaving it unclear when the injury occurred. His status will be monitored in the coming days.
What Westbrook’s absence removes from the lineup
Across 56 games this season, Westbrook was averaging 15. 3 points, 5. 5 rebounds and 6. 3 assists while shooting 43. 1% from the field and 33. 8% from three-point range, numbers that the team noted outpaced his $3. 6 million veteran-minimum salary; his play—driven by pace, physicality and an ability to pressure the rim—had been one of the few consistent offensive options for a squad that has fallen into a deep hole in the standings.
Mavericks pregame form and shooting trends
Dallas, still down Cooper Flagg, arrives at the American Airlines Center at 21-36 after closing out a 134-130 win over the Indiana Pacers on Sunday and a 123-114 victory over the Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday; if the Mavericks beat Sacramento on Thursday, it would make three straight wins following a 10-game skid. Since the All-Star break the Mavericks shot 39. 3% from three in the Indiana game and 34. 8% in the Brooklyn game, figures the Dallas side will lean on in a matchup that the Kings’ defense has made available.
Kings’ season context and roster outlook
The Kings have been described across coverage as near the bottom of the league: one summary listed Sacramento with a 13-47 record and at the bottom of the Western Conference, while another noted the club was 13-46 at the time of writing and likely to be 13-47 after Wednesday’s game with the Rockets, enough for the 30th spot in the league. The team is on the second night of a back-to-back and has won only four road games this season, though it did beat the Memphis Grizzlies a few nights earlier. Franchise commentary indicates the organization appears headed toward a full rebuild, leaving little immediate contention runway.
Legacy notes and next steps
Westbrook, an 18-season veteran and the NBA’s all-time leader in triple-doubles, is a nine-time All-Star, two-time scoring champion, nine-time All-NBA selection and a former league MVP who has suited up for seven organizations and has yet to win an NBA title; he has indicated he intends to play next season, but coverage noted the window to chase that final accomplishment is narrowing. This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Feb 26, 2026, where it first appeared in the NBA section.
The Kings and Mavericks meet at 8: 30 p. m. ET Thursday in Dallas; team officials will monitor Westbrook’s thigh contusion and other injuries in the days following the game.
