Sacremento Kings reportedly worried about Malik Monk's MCL sprain

This development adds to the Kings' challenges, particularly after losing starting shooting guard Kevin Huerter for the remainder of the season. Malik Monk, who has been a standout contender for the Sixth Man of the Year award, was forced to exit the game barely a minute after entering due to a collision with Luka Doncic. The collision occurred as they both went airborne, with Doncic landing on top of Monk.

Monk was ruled out for the remainder of the game, but the more concerning update came post-game from Shams Charania of The Athletic.

The duration of Monk's absence hinges on the severity of the MCL sprain. For a mild sprain, he could be sidelined for just a few weeks, potentially returning by the end of the regular season. However, if it's a more severe sprain, Monk might be out for the duration of the playoffs.

Monk has played a pivotal role in the Kings' offensive strategy this season, averaging 15.4 points and 5.1 assists per game off the bench while shooting 35% from beyond the arc. He's often entrusted with closing out games for the team and is considered the leading candidate for the Sixth Man of the Year award. This injury doesn't affect his eligibility for the award, as the Sixth Man award isn't impacted by the 65-game rule, and Monk has already played in 72 games.


Sacramento ultimately lost the game to Dallas, 107-103, and now holds the eighth position in the Western Conference standings. They trail the Mavericks by two games for the sixth seed, aiming to avoid the play-in tournament. With the Lakers just 1.5 games behind them (two games in the loss column) for the ninth seed, the Kings are motivated to secure wins to maintain their position.

Fortunately, Sacramento holds the tiebreaker over the Lakers, having swept the season series 4-0. While the Kings seem likely to participate in the play-in tournament, finishing seventh or eighth would require winning only one of two games to advance to the playoffs, offering a more manageable path compared to finishing ninth or tenth.

Source Yahoo Sports : Kings Malik Monk leaves game in first quarter with knee injury, reportedly has MCL sprain