The Sacramento Kings’ worst fears were confirmed on Saturday after ESPN insider Adrian Wojnarowski reported that sixth man Malik Monk suffered a sprained right MCL. Monk will be out for four to six weeks.
ESPN Sources: Sacramento Kings G Malik Monk has suffered a sprained right MCL and is expected to miss four-to-six weeks. Monk — who’s had a career-best season — needs a Kings run in the Western Conference playoffs to return this season. pic.twitter.com/5Q3isJ0U1N
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) March 30, 2024
As a result, the Kings will likely need to make it to the second round of the 2024 NBA Playoffs before he returns. Per the 2023-24 schedule, the regular season ends on Apr. 14, with the playoffs beginning on Apr. 20. The semifinal round begins on May 6-7 and could move up to May 4-5.
Kings, Malik Monk’s Worst Fears Confirmed
Monk has been a key ingredient in Sacramento’s success, averaging career-highs of 15.4 points and 5.1 assists per game. Monk also ranks second on the Kings in total clutch points (98). A projected Sixth Man of the Year Award finalist, Monk had only missed one game this season.
Signing with Sacramento in the 2022 offseason to join forces with former college teammate De’Aaron Fox, the Kings have gone 89-60 with Monk in the lineup. Just 1-5 without the 26-year-old, Sacramento will certainly feel his absence. With starting wing Kevin Huerter undergoing a season-ending shoulder surgery this week, the Kings may have to get creative for the next month and a half.
With nine games remaining in the regular season, Sacramento is now eighth in the Western Conference standings.
Just 4.0 games ahead of the eleventh-place Houston Rockets, who have won 11 games in a row, the Kings are in danger of being out of the playoffs completely. However, they’re just 2.0 games behind the Dallas Mavericks, who have won six games in a row. With a strong finish, they’ll secure their spot in the postseason for the second straight season.
