The Sacramento Kings are in a battle to avoid the Play-In Tournament. Unfortunately for them, their plight got a little more challenging with the latest injury news. It has been announced by the team that shooting guard Kevin Huerter has sustained a dislocated left shoulder and labral tear.
While a timetable for his return hasn’t been announced, it is widely assumed the injury will keep him out for the rest of the season. Memphis Grizzlies’ star Ja Morant suffered a labral tear back in early January. Soon after, the injury was announced as a season-ender.
Huerter’s injury occurred early in the first quarter of Monday’s game against the Grizzlies. He has now missed the last two games and will likely miss the last 13 Sacramento regular season games as well.
Kings Sharpshooter Suffers Labral Tear, Season in Doubt
Huerter has Been Full-Time Starter Since Joining Sacramento
The 25-year-old was acquired by the Kings in the 2022 offseason in a deal with the Atlanta Hawks. Since joining Sacramento, Huerter has started 134 of his 139 appearances. There was just a five-game stretch this season from December 31-January 7 where he came off the bench.
Now in his sixth season, Huerter seemed to regress a bit from his 2022-23 season. In 64 games this season, he is averaging 10.2 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.6 assists. Huerter has shot 44.3% from the field including 36.1% from three-point territory.
If you rewind back to his first season in Sacramento, Huerter was shooting the ball much better. In Huerter’s 75 games in 2022-23, he connected on 48.5% of his field goal attempts and 40.2% of his three-point tries. Both percentages are career-highs for Huerter. He also averaged 15.2 points (also a career-high), five more than this season.
In 413 regular season games, Huerter has posted career averages of 11.9 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 3.0 assists.
Huerter is still someone that defenses can’t leave alone, and his presence will surely be missed by the Kings.
Who has Taken Huerter’s Spot in the Starting Lineup?
Malik Monk has been arguably the top reserve scorer in the league this season. He is the heavy favorite to win Sixth Man of the Year according to DraftKings Sportsbook.
So instead of Monk starting the game, the Kings have turned to undrafted second-year player Keon Ellis. Seen as more of a defensive specialist, Ellis has scored just eight total points in the two games since Huerter’s injury. The 24-year-old is averaging just 3.9 points in 14.1 minutes per contest over his 44 outings in 2023-24.
Kings Placement in the Standings
The Western Conference has been tight for much of the season. A top-six seed is needed to avoid the Play-In Tournament between seeds 7-10.
The Kings disappointing loss to the lowly Washington Wizards on Thursday has dropped them to eighth in the West. Their 40-29 record is just a half-game behind the Phoenix Suns and Dallas Mavericks who own matching 41-29 records. Sacramento is also two games behind the fifth-seeded New Orleans Pelicans.
Last season, the Kings advanced to the postseason for the first time since 2006. They fell in seven games to the Golden State Warriors in the opening round.
