There was good news and bad news for the Sacramento Kings on Saturday as two of their best players continued to recover from injuries.
Malik Monk and Domantas Sabonis have both been cleared for on-court activity, but neither will be available when the Kings visit the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday at Intuit Dome in Inglewood.
The Kings said Monk and Sabonis both completed individual workouts Saturday as they progress in their return-to-play plans. Both have been ruled out for Sunday’s game against the Clippers. Sabonis will also miss Monday’s game against the New York Knicks before he is reevaluated Tuesday.
Monk has missed the past two games with a right toe sprain. Sabonis has missed the past three games with a left hamstring strain. Keon Ellis has started in place of Monk while Jonas Valanciunas has filled in for Sabonis.
Monk took over the team’s starting point guard after De’Aaron Fox was traded to the San Antonio Spurs. He is averaging career highs of 17.6 points, 3.8 rebounds, 5.9 assists, 1.0 steals and 0.6 blocks.
Sabonis is having another All-NBA caliber season despite being snubbed as an All-Star selection. He is averaging 19.5 points, a career-high 14.1 rebounds and 6.2 assists while shooting 59.6% from the field and 43.2% from 3-point range.
Ellis and Valanciunas have been outstanding in place of Monk and Sabonis. Ellis averaged 10.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 3.0 steals and 1.5 blocks as a starter over the past two games. The Kings are 9-4 with him in the starting lineup this season.
Valanciunas has three double-doubles in the past four games, averaging 15.8 points, 12.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 2.0 steals and 1.5 blocks.