The Sacramento Kings secured a key win, defeating the Memphis Grizzlies 132-122 to improve to 34-33 and tighten their hold on the No. 9 seed in the Western Conference. However, the team received a tough blow less than a day later regarding the health of star center.
According to Shams Charania, he will be sidelined for at least 10 days due to a right ankle sprain. He leads the NBA in rebounds, had just returned last week after missing six consecutive games but is now set for another stint on the sidelines. The Kings have struggled without him this season, holding a 3-6 record in games he has missed.
He sustained the injury during Monday’s game against the Grizzlies, when the three-time All-Star rolled his ankle in the third quarter. He was escorted to the locker room by the Kings’ medical staff and did not return to the game. Unfortunately, further evaluation confirmed a sprained right ankle for the two-time All-NBA selection.
The timing couldn’t be worse for Sacramento, as the team is battling to secure a Play-In Tournament berth in the competitive Western Conference. Sabonis’ absence leaves a major void as the Kings try to maintain their postseason hopes.
Currently, just four games separate the ninth-seeded Kings from the 13th-place San Antonio Spurs (28-39) in the Western Conference standings. Sacramento’s position in the Play-In Tournament is far from secure, and now they’ll be forced to navigate the critical stretch ahead without Domantas Sabonis, arguably their most impactful player. His absence comes at a pivotal moment as the Kings look to solidify their postseason hopes.