Clifford (hamstring) logged zero points (0-1 FG), three rebounds and one block in 16 minutes off the bench in Saturday's 135-133 win over the Bucks.
Clifford started in the Kings' season-opening loss to the Suns on Oct. 22, but after injuring his hamstring in that contest and missing Sacramento's subsequent four games, he returned to action Saturday in a bench role. Though the Kings went with Dylan Cardwell alongside Domantas Sabonis as part of a supersized frontcourt, head coach Doug Christie ran out a smaller bench unit that resulted in the rookie Clifford logging more playing time at forward. Despite serving mostly as a guard during his collegiate career, Clifford could end up seeing most of his minutes as a reserve forward for the foreseeable future, as the Kings backcourt will eventually get another key player back in Malik Monk (personal), who sat out Saturday's win.
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Kings' Nique Clifford: Cleared to suit up Saturday
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Clifford (hamstring) is available for Saturday's game against the Bucks, Jason Anderson of The Sacramento Bee reports.
Clifford has missed four straight games and will have a chance to see the court Saturday for the first time since the regular-season opener. The rookie was a focal point of the rotation in his only appearance thus far, playing 24 minutes as a starter. Clifford finished that loss to Phoenix with two points (1-3 FG), eight rebounds, two assists, two steals and a block.
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Kings' Nique Clifford: Iffy for Saturday
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Clifford (hamstring) is questionable for Saturday's game against the Bucks.
Clifford is in danger of missing a fifth straight game due to a hamstring injury. However, the Colorado State product seems to be trending in the right direction. If he misses Saturday's matchup, the team will turn to Russell Westbrook, Keon Ellis and Devin Carter, especially with Malik Monk (personal) already ruled out.
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Kings' Nique Clifford: Out at least one week
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Clifford underwent an MRI that confirmed a right hamstring strain, Deuce Mason of NBC Sports California reports. He will be re-evaluated in one week.
The Kings are already shorthanded with Domantas Sabonis recovering from a hamstring issue of his own and Keegan Murray (thumb) out a month-plus. Keon Ellis will likely receive a boost in minutes while potentially being in the starting lineup while Clifford is on the mend. It's possible coach Doug Christie also dusts off Doug McDermott, who was a DNP-CD in the season-opening loss to the Suns.
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Kings' Nique Clifford: Part of first unit
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Clifford will start Wednesday's game against the Suns, Jason Anderson of The Sacramento Bee reports.
Clifford draws the start in his first NBA regular season game, stepping into the starting small forward position as a result of Keegan Murray's (thumb) injury. Dennis Schroder, Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan and Drew Eubanks make up the rest of Sacramento's starting five.
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Kings' Nique Clifford: Starting sans DeRozan
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Clifford will start in Friday's preseason game against the Lakers, Khobi Price of The Orange County Register reports.
With DeMar DeRozan (groin) sidelined in the Kings' preseason finale, Clifford will get the starting nod. The rookie first-round pick could see increased playing time to begin the regular season due to Keegan Murray (thumb) being on the shelf.
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Kings' Nique Clifford: Scores team-high 19 points
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Clifford produced 19 points (8-13 FG, 1-1 FT, 2-5 3Pt), three rebounds and a steal across 20 minutes in Wednesday's 109-91 loss to the Clippers.
Clifford is following up a stellar Summer League with standout performances in the preseason. He can fill a few different positions as a second-unit replacement, where the first-round pick should rise to the cusp of fantasy relevancy. The team was a bit short-handed due to Keegan Murray's (thumb) injury, but Clifford is likely to earn comparable minutes when the team is fully healthy.
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Kings' Nique Clifford: Scores 15 off bench in loss
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Clifford finished with 15 points (5-11 FG, 2-5 3Pt, 3-3 FT), three rebounds, two assists, one steal and one block across 26 minutes during Friday's 124-123 preseason loss to the Trail Blazers.
Clifford led the way off the bench, as one of only two Kings -- Zach LaVine being the other -- to score 15 or more points Friday. The rookie guard was given the time to show what he could do during this one-point loss, playing a team-high 26 minutes.
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Kings' Nique Clifford: Dishes out nine assists
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Clifford finished with 10 points (3-7 FG, 0-2 3Pt, 4-4 FT), three rebounds, nine assists and two steals across 24 minutes during Wednesday's 120-122 preseason loss to the Raptors.
Clifford came one assist shy of recording a double-double, as he provided a spark off the bench. The Colorado State product also made an impact during the Las Vegas Summer League, showing the ability to fill up the stat sheet, especially crashing the glass and as a distributor.
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Kings' Nique Clifford: Double-double in SL win
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Clifford closed with 19 points (8-13 FG, 3-4 3Pt), 12 rebounds, five assists and one steal across 28 minutes in Saturday's 109-92 Summer League win over the Bulls.
Clifford delivered a strong performance Saturday, drilling three three-pointers and securing double-digit rebounds. The No. 24 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft is coming off an impressive season at Colorado State, where he averaged 18.9 points, 9.6 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 1.2 steals while shooting 49.6 percent from the field and 37.7 percent from three across 36 total games.
