Kings guard Bogdan Bogdanovic doubtful Saturday against New Orleans Pelicans
Kings guard Bogdan Bogdanovic is not expected to play when Sacramento faces the New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday night at Golden 1 Center after aggravating a lingering ankle injury in Thursday’s win over the Memphis Grizzlies.
The Kings (13-22) are listing Bogdanovic as doubtful against the Pelicans (11-23) due to right ankle soreness. Marvin Bagley III will miss his fifth game in a row with a midfoot sprain. Bagley previously missed 22 games with a broken thumb.
Bogdanovic is averaging 14.5 points, 3.6 assists and 3.0 rebounds as the team’s top reserve. He has missed five games due to hamstring and ankle injuries this season. The Kings are 0-5 in those contests.
“I think everyone who’s with us all the time in the Sacramento area knows how important (Bogdanovic) is for us,” Kings coach Luke Walton said following Thursday’s game. “As far as an update, I don’t have one, but hopefully it’s not too bad.”
Bogdanovic limped off the floor with 6:51 to play in the fourth quarter against the Grizzlies. He appeared to be in considerable discomfort before being led to the locker room for treatment. Bogdanovic later said he “felt pinching in the back of my ankle.”
Bogdanovic said the ankle injury has been an ongoing issue for him.
“I was playing through this all the time,” he said. “Today it was a little bit harder.”
Sacramento snapped an eight-game losing streak with a 128-123 victory over the Grizzlies. New Orleans lost 13 in a row in November and December, but the Pelicans were riding a four-game winning streak going into Friday’s game against the Los Angeles Lakers. Their winning streak included victories over the Portland Trail Blazers, Denver Nuggets, Indiana Pacers and Houston Rockets.
Zion Williamson, the No. 1 pick in June’s NBA Draft, has yet to make his NBA debut for New Orleans, but he participated in his first full practice Thursday since undergoing knee surgery in October. Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry told reporters in New Orleans that Williamson will not play on the team’s upcoming California road trip.
Kings upcoming schedule
Jan. 4 vs. New Orleans, 7 p.m.
Jan. 6 vs. Golden State, 7 p.m.
Jan. 7 at Phoenix, 6 p.m.
Jan. 10 vs. Milwaukee, 7 p.m.
Jan. 13 vs. Orlando, 7 p.m.
