Sacramento Kings Injury Woes Continue as Zach LaVine Joins Sideline with Ankle Sprain
The Sacramento Kings just can’t seem to catch a break on the injury front this season. With Domantas Sabonis still out and Dennis Schroder only just returning to action, the team took another hit when Zach LaVine-their top scorer-went down with a left ankle sprain during Sunday’s game in Minnesota.
LaVine came out firing early, setting the tone offensively before rolling his ankle on a strong drive to the rim. He initially tried to play through it, gutting out some minutes in the second quarter, but eventually had to head to the locker room.
On Tuesday morning, the Kings confirmed the injury as a “moderate left ankle sprain,” and announced he’ll be re-evaluated in one week. That timeline means he’ll likely miss at least the next four games.
That’s a significant blow to a Kings squad already battling inconsistency. LaVine is the only player on the roster averaging over 20 points per game (20.2 ppg), and his ability to create his own shot and stretch the floor from deep has been a major part of Sacramento’s offensive identity. Without him, the Kings managed just 19 points in the fourth quarter against the Timberwolves-a stat that speaks volumes, even if late-game scoring struggles haven’t been entirely new.
Head coach Doug Christie has turned to rookie Nique Clifford in prior games, and Clifford could be in line for more starting minutes with LaVine out. But the real weight falls on Sacramento’s veteran core to pick up the slack. DeMar DeRozan, Russell Westbrook, Malik Monk, and Dennis Schroder are all capable of shouldering more offensive responsibility-and they’ll need to.
One player to watch closely in the coming stretch is Keegan Murray. After a strong, aggressive start to the season, Murray’s shot attempts have dipped.
With LaVine sidelined, this could be the perfect opportunity for the second-year forward to reassert himself as a scoring threat. The Kings need more from him-not just in volume, but in confidence.
Meanwhile, the timeline for Sabonis’ return is nearing its end. The All-Star big man, who was originally set to be re-evaluated in 3-4 weeks, hits the four-week mark on Thursday, December 18.
However, he was absent from Tuesday’s practice and is also reportedly dealing with an illness. Even if he’s cleared medically, the Kings may need to wait a bit longer before getting their anchor back on the floor.
Injuries have forced Christie to dig deeper into his rotation. Second-year guard Devin Carter, who had logged just 86 minutes on the season entering last week, saw 21 of those come in a single game due to the team’s thinning backcourt. Keon Ellis, meanwhile, picked up only his second DNP-CD of the year on Sunday-but that could change quickly with the current roster situation.
LaVine’s absence removes a major scoring option and a clutch shot-maker from the lineup, but it also opens the door for Sacramento’s younger players to step into bigger roles. The Kings will need a collective effort to stay competitive in the short term, especially with a tough slate of games ahead:
- Thursday, Dec. 18 - @ Portland Trail Blazers - 7:00 PM PT
- Saturday, Dec. 20 - vs. Portland Trail Blazers - 7:00 PM PT
- Sunday, Dec. 21 - vs. Houston Rockets - 7:00 PM PT
- Tuesday, Dec. 23 - vs. Detroit Pistons - 7:00 PM PT
- Saturday, Dec. 27 - vs. Dallas Mavericks - 2:00 PM PT
The Kings are leaning heavily into the “next man up” mentality-a mindset that’s easier said than done, but necessary if they want to stay afloat in a tightly contested Western Conference. With LaVine out and Sabonis still working his way back, the next week will test the Kings’ depth, resilience, and ability to adapt on the fly.