Kings-Suns gameday live: Updates on Malik Monk, Kevin Durant, Cameron Payne, Landry Shamet
The All-Star break couldn’t be coming at a better time for Kings guard Malik Monk.
Monk went down with a sprained right ankle in Saturday’s 133-128 overtime win against the Dallas Mavericks. He has been ruled out for Tuesday’s game against the Phoenix Suns, but he will have extended recovery time before the Kings come back from the break to play the Portland Trail Blazers on Feb. 23.
The Kings (32-24) have a chance to go a season-high nine games over .500 when they face the Suns on Tuesday at Footprint Center in Phoenix. They are third in the Western Conference playoff race going into their final game before the All-Star break, two games ahead of the Suns (31-27).
Monk is averaging 13.4 points, 2.6 rebounds and 3.9 assists in his first season with the Kings. He scored in double figures in seven consecutive games before suffering the ankle injury against the Mavericks. Monk didn’t participate in Monday’s practice, but he did some light shooting drills and “doesn’t seem like (he will be out) too long,” Kings coach Mike Brown said.
Phoenix will be shorthanded after making a blockbuster trade to acquire 13-time All-Star Kevin Durant in a deal that sent Mikal Bridges, Cameron Johnson, four first-round draft picks and a 2028 first-round pick swap to the Brooklyn Nets. Durant participated in his first practice with the Suns on Monday, but the team has ruled him out for its final two games before the break, according to The Arizona Republic’s Duane Rankin.
The Suns have also ruled out guards Cameron Payne and Landry Shamet. Payne is out with a right foot sprain. Shamet is experiencing right foot soreness.
The Suns still figure to present a formidable challenge with Chris Paul, Devin Booker and Deandre Ayton. Paul is averaging 13.8 points and 8.7 assists. Booker is averaging 26.6 points, 4.6 rebounds and 5.5 assists. Ayton, the No. 1 pick in the 2018 NBA draft, is averaging 18.6 points and 10.2 rebounds.
Kings activate Queta
Two-way player Neemias Queta will be available when the Kings visit the Suns on Tuesday. Queta, 7-foot-center from Portugal, has appeared in four games for Sacramento this season, averaging 3.0 points and 2.3 rebounds in 6.3 minutes per contest.
Queta, 23, will participate in the NBA G League Next Up Game at noon Sunday at Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City as part of NBA All-Star Weekend. Queta is averaging 19.4 points, 8.4 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.9 blocks in 31.4 minutes per game for the G League Stockton Kings.
Kings at Suns
When: 6 p.m.
Where: Footprint Center
TV: NBC Sports California
Radio: Sactown Sports 1140
Odds: Suns -3.0
Over/under: 234
Injury report
Kings: OUT — Malik Monk (ankle); KZ Okpala (G League); Neemias Queta (G League).
Suns: OUT — Kevin Durant (knee); Cameron Payne (foot); Landry Shamet (foot).
Upcoming schedule
Feb. 14 at Phoenix Suns
Feb. 23 vs. Portland Trail Blazers
Feb. 24 at Los Angeles Clippers
Feb. 26 at Oklahoma City Thunder
Feb. 28 at Oklahoma City Thunder
This story was originally published February 14, 2023 at 5:00 AM.
