Kings are healthy for first time this season with two key role players cleared to return
The Kings will have a clean bill of health for the first time this season when they open a three-game road trip against the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday at Moda Center.
Sixth Man of the Year candidate Malik Monk and backup center Alex Len were listed as questionable when the Kings submitted their injury report Monday, but both were upgraded to available Tuesday afternoon.
Monk has been trying to play through an injury described as right foot irritation, but he was held out of Saturday’s 110-98 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves at Golden 1 Center. Len has been sidelined for six weeks after suffering a high right ankle sprain in a Nov. 13 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Monk, a 6-foot-3 guard from Kentucky, is averaging career highs of 14.3 points and 5.2 assists in his second season with the Kings. The 25-year-old guard is shooting a career-best 41.2% from 3-point range on 6.3 attempts per game.
Len, a 7-foot center from Maryland, is averaging 2.5 points and 2.7 rebounds in his 11th NBA season. He was not part of coach Mike Brown’s rotation when the season began, but prior to his injury he had moved ahead of JaVale McGee as the primary backup to All-NBA center Domantas Sabonis.
This is the first time the Kings have been fully healthy since the preseason. Forward Trey Lyles missed the first 13 games due to a calf strain. By the time Lyles was cleared to return against the New Orleans Pelicans on Nov. 22, Len was out with the ankle injury.
De’Aaron Fox, Keegan Murray, Kevin Huerter and Chris Duarte have also missed games due to injuries.
Following Tuesday’s game against the Blazers, the Kings will head east to face the Atlanta Hawks on Friday and Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday. They will then return to Sacramento to begin a four-game homestand against the Charlotte Hornets on Jan. 2.
Upcoming schedule
Dec. 26 at Portland Trail Blazers
Dec. 29 at Atlanta Hawks
Dec. 31 at Memphis Grizzlies
Jan. 2 vs. Charlotte Hornets
Jan. 3 vs. Orlando Magic
This story was originally published December 26, 2023 at 2:32 PM.
