Kings star Domantas Sabonis will be sidelined for at least 10 days due to a right ankle sprain, sources confirmed to ESPN’s Shams Charania on Tuesday.
Sabonis, who leads the NBA in rebounds with an impressive 13.9 per game, sustained the injury during Monday night’s victory over the Grizzlies. The standout big man initially took a hit to the face when Luke Kennard’s head collided with Sabonis’ left eye.
Though he briefly returned to the game after the incident, Sabonis was forced to leave for good in the third quarter after rolling his ankle. This setback comes just days after Sabonis made his return to the lineup following a six-game absence due to a hamstring injury. The Kings have struggled without him, posting a 3-6 record during his earlier stretch on the sidelines.
Sabonis has been a key player for Sacramento this season, averaging 19.2 points, 13.9 rebounds, and 6.2 assists per game. His all-around contributions have been vital in keeping the Kings competitive in the Western Conference. With Sabonis out, center Jonas Valanciunas is expected to step into the starting lineup.
To help fill the gap, the Kings signed forward Terry Taylor to a 10-day contract earlier Tuesday. Taylor had been putting up strong numbers in the G League, averaging 17.5 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 3.4 assists over 28 games for the Kings’ affiliate in Stockton.
Sacramento, which entered Wednesday with a 34-33 record, is currently in ninth place in the Western Conference and remains in the thick of the playoff race.
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