News Summary
Sacramento Kings’ All-Star center Domantas Sabonis will miss the start of the NBA season due to a Grade 1 hamstring strain. He will be evaluated in a week, missing crucial games. Fellow player Keegan Murray is also out for at least a month. The Kings face challenges with injuries as they prepare for the new season, relying on depth and new additions to step up in their absence.
Sacramento – Sacramento Kings’ All-Star center Domantas Sabonis will be sidelined at the start of the NBA season due to a Grade 1 hamstring strain, confirmed by an MRI conducted after a preseason game against the Los Angeles Clippers on October 15. Sabonis will be evaluated in one week, missing both the season opener against the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday and the home opener versus the Utah Jazz on Friday. The earliest he could return to action is for a home game against the Los Angeles Lakers on October 26.
The injury, while classified as minor, poses a significant challenge for the Kings as they aim to improve upon recent seasons. In addition to Sabonis, Keegan Murray, a power forward for the Kings, will be unavailable for at least one month due to a torn ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in his left thumb. Murray’s absence, coupled with Sabonis’ injury, raises concerns for Sacramento’s initial performance this season.
The Kings are currently exploring options to fill the gaps left by their absent stars. The team has tested various players in preparation, including second-year center Isaac Jones and veterans Dario Saric and Drew Eubanks. Coach Doug Christie started Eubanks in the preseason finale against the Lakers, where Eubanks made contributions with 10 points, five rebounds, and four assists.
Last season, Sabonis was a standout performer, averaging 19.1 points, 13.9 rebounds, and six assists per game. He has consistently been among the best in the league, leading the NBA in rebounding for the past three seasons and recording at least 19 points per game during that time. His absence will undoubtedly create a ripple effect as the Kings look to secure their place in the playoffs after missing the postseason in four of the past five seasons.
In addition to Sabonis and Murray, other players have also faced health challenges recently. Malik Monk has been sidelined due to illness, while DeMar DeRozan is dealing with a groin issue, both of whom were ruled out for the Kings’ preseason finale. These ongoing injury concerns complicate the team’s preparations and strategy for the upcoming games.
As the Kings navigate through this early setback, they will be relying on their depth and new additions to step up. Among those is Russell Westbrook, a former Kia MVP, who has signed with the Kings and is set to embark on his 18th NBA season. His experience and skill set will be essential as Sacramento aims to build momentum amidst the challenges of a new season.
The landscape for the Kings will be under close observation as they combat these injuries and seek to establish a solid foundation for their season. With crucial games coming up, the team’s resilience will be tested early on, and how they adapt without key players will play a significant role in their success this year.
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Additional Resources
- NBA.com
- Sacramento Bee
- ESPN
- USA Today
- The Star
- Wikipedia: Domantas Sabonis
- Google Search: Domantas Sabonis
- Google Scholar: Domantas Sabonis
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Domantas Sabonis
- Google News: Domantas Sabonis injury
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