The Sacramento Kings may have the third-worst record in the NBA, but they are proving they haven’t lost their fight.

Monday night’s rematch against the Los Angeles Lakers in Sacramento promises to be a heated affair, as the Kings will be without veteran guard Dennis Schroder. Schroder is serving the second game of a three-game suspension without pay for what the NBA described as “attempting to strike a player after a game.”

The league did not name the Los Angeles player involved, but multiple reports identified the star guard Luka Doncic. The confrontation reportedly occurred roughly 40 minutes after the Kings fell 125-101 to the Lakers on Dec. 28. During that game, Schroder and Doncic exchanged verbal barbs, with Doncic finishing with 34 points and seven assists.

Lakers coach JJ Redick declined to comment on the incident Sunday. “It’s a league matter, so I don’t really have a comment on it,” he said.

Sacramento coach Doug Christie also spoke cautiously before the Kings’ 111-98 home victory over the Houston Rockets. “It’s unfortunate, but the league has ruled,” Christie said. He added that he values the intensity Schroder brings to the team.

“Dennis is willing to go the distance,” Christie said. “It has nothing to do with playing dirty. You’ve got to defend yourself. Dennis rides with us. Period.”

In the Dec. 28 matchup, Schroder recorded 11 points and seven assists in 19 minutes off the bench. That game marked the Lakers’ second consecutive win over the Kings this season and sixth straight overall.

“We owe them a lot,” Sacramento forward Precious Achiuwa said of Los Angeles.

Without Schroder, the Kings snapped a seven-game losing streak with Sunday’s win over the Rockets. DeMar DeRozan scored 22 points and became the 23rd player in NBA history to surpass 26,000 career points, finishing at 26,018.

“We knew we needed this one. It’s been a tough last couple games,” DeRozan said. “We’re just trying to get it together. It seems like we’ve had bad luck—Dennis’ suspension, players hurt. So it’s good to get this win.”

Malik Monk, whose playing time had been limited in mid-December, received 26 minutes on Sunday—the most since Dec. 14—and contributed 15 points.

“Malik did a fabulous job,” Christie said. “He played to the standard. I love him and commend him for that.”

The Lakers have struggled recently, losing back-to-back games and six of their last 10. Their latest setback came Friday, a 105-101 home loss to the Milwaukee Bucks. Doncic, who had scored 30 or more points in six consecutive games, managed only 24 points on 8-of-25 shooting against Milwaukee. He is still averaging a league-best 33.3 points per game.

“Probably I could have executed better, for sure,” Doncic said. “Obviously, my shot didn’t go well. I could get better shots, so I wish I could have executed better than that.”

LeBron James led the Lakers with 26 points, 10 assists, nine rebounds, and three steals. He is averaging 28.3 points, 8.5 assists, and 8.3 rebounds in four games this month.

The Lakers will have forward Rui Hachimura available after missing six games with a right calf strain. Redick said Hachimura will come off the bench. The four-year veteran said he is just happy to be back on the court.

“At the end of the day, I’m trying to help this team win,” Hachimura said. “That’s the whole purpose of being here. I’ve been here four seasons, and I think I’m one of the guys that’s been here the longest, too.”

--Field Level Media/Reuters