Harry Giles III gets first start for Kings after Richaun Holmes injures shoulder
Kings big man Harry Giles III got his first career NBA start against the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday night after center Richaun Holmes strained his right shoulder in a 111-98 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Monday night at Golden 1 Center.
Holmes suffered the injury when he collided with Warriors guard Damion Lee on a pick-and-roll play in Sacramento’s win over the Warriors. He left the game with 7:25 to play in the third quarter and did not return.
Holmes wasn’t sure how the injury occurred immediately after the game. He said he was sore, but he didn’t believe the injury was serious.
“I really can’t say,” Holmes said. “I just remember catching the ball and I went to go up and I just felt this pain in my shoulder and it got worse. I really can’t tell you what happened, but I’ll be all right.”
Holmes traveled with the team to Phoenix, but he was ruled out before the game.
“He’s not going to play tonight,” Kings coach Luke Walton told reporters in Phoenix. “He got treatment when we got in last night late, got treatment again this morning before our film session and wanted to try, but he’s not there, so he will be out. He’ll get treatment back here during the game and we’ll see how he feels tomorrow.”
Holmes has been a bright spot for a Kings team that has been besieged by injuries this season. De’Aaron Fox, Marvin Bagley III and Bogdan Bogdanovic have all missed significant time due to injuries. Holmes is averaging career highs of 13.3 points, 8.6 rebounds and 1.4 blocked shots in a breakout season for the Kings, who signed him to a two-year, $10 million contract in July.
Holmes was expected to compete for backup minutes, but he replaced Dewayne Dedmon in the starting lineup after four games. Dedmon, who signed a three-year, $40 million contract in July, has fallen out of the rotation and recently requested a trade.
Dedmon was listed as inactive for each of the last three games and has logged only seven minutes since Dec. 6, but he was active for Tuesday’s game against the Suns and checked into the game for the first time with 4:29 to play in the first quarter.
Kings upcoming schedule
Jan. 10 vs. Milwaukee, 7 p.m.
Jan. 13 vs. Orlando, 7 p.m.
Jan. 15 vs. Dallas Mavericks
Jan. 18 at Utah, 6 p.m.
Jan. 20 at Miami, 2 p.m.
