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The Sacramento Kings will be without their star guard, Malik Monk, for the upcoming Play-In Tournament.
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Monk has been ruled out with a left calf strain, and he will be re-evaluated in two weeks.
ESPN's Shams Charania shared via X.
Sacramento Kings guard Malik Monk will be re-evaluated in two weeks due to a left calf strain, sources tell ESPN. This timetable sidelines Monk – averaging a career-high 17.2 points – for rest of regular season and Play-In games. pic.twitter.com/v0GG8ugnGN
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 9, 2025
Monk will miss the rest of the regular season and may miss the first round of the playoffs if the Kings make it past the play-in.
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The absence of Monk could cost the Kings a lot.
As of Wednesday, they are the No. 9 seed in the Western Conference. Sacramento clinched the Play-In Tournament earlier this week, so it's all about seeding. They have three games remaining, including the contest against the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday.
In the meantime, the Kings will look to rely on Keon Ellis, Devin Carter, and Markelle Fultz in the backcourt.
The Kings have a 39-40 record and could fall to the No. 10 seed if they go on a losing skid to close the season. As things stand, the Kings would host the Dallas Mavericks for a chance to move on in the tournament and play for the No. 8 seed in the next round.
Monk has been stellar for the Kings this season. In 65 games, the former Kentucky Wildcat is averaging 17.2 points per game, 3.8 rebounds, 5.6 assists, and 0.9 steals while shooting 43.9 percent from the field and 32.5 percent from three in 31.6 minutes.
This isn't the first time Monk has suffered a major injury late in the season. Last year, he missed the final nine regular-season games and both of Sacramento's play-in contests due to an MCL sprain.
The timing couldn't be worse for the Kings, who are already without Keegan Murray (back soreness) and Jake LaRavia (thumb). With key players sidelined, Sacramento will now have to lean heavily on its depth during a critical stretch of the season, but at the worst possible time.
After Wednesday's game, the Kings will host their division rivals, the Los Angeles Clippers, and end their season against another one of their division rivals, the Phoenix Suns, on Sunday.
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Ricardo Sandoval is a Newsweek contributor based in Los Angeles, CA. His focus is sports content. Ricardo has been with Newsweek since 2024 and also writes ... Read more