Sacramento Kings provide Domantas Sabonis injury update going into game against Mavericks
The Sacramento Kings will not have the services of All-NBA center Domantas Sabonis when they face the Dallas Mavericks on Monday at American Airlines Center.
Sabonis has been ruled out due to a hamstring injury. The Kings said an MRI revealed a grade 1 left hamstring strain. Sabonis suffered the injury in the opening minutes of Saturday’s 113-103 victory over the Houston Rockets.
The Kings (31-28) were eighth in the Western Conference on Sunday after winning three games in a row, a half-game behind the Golden State Warriors for seventh and one game behind the Los Angeles Clippers for the No. 6 seed.
The Mavericks (32-29) have fallen to 10th in the West after losing three of their last four games. Anthony Davis has been out since suffering an adductor injury in his Dallas debut after the Mavericks acquired him in the blockbuster trade that sent Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers.
Sabonis, a three-time All-Star and two-time All-NBA selection, is averaging 19.9 points, a career-high 14.4 rebounds and 6.3 assists. He is shooting 59.6% from the field, a career-best 43.2% from 3-point range and 74.9% at the free-throw line.
Sabonis played only 1:16 before leaving Saturday’s game at Toyota Center in Houston. He reached for the back of his left leg while running the floor and immediately limped off the court as interim coach Doug Christie called a timeout with 10:44 to play in the first quarter.
Sabonis was helped to the locker room to get treatment from the team’s medical staff. The Kings announced Sabonis would not return a short time later.
Sabonis was replaced by Jonas Valanciunas, who played a huge role in an impressive win for Sacramento. Valanciunas put up 15 points, 14 rebounds, four steals and three blocked shots.
The Kings acquired Valanciunas, a 6-foot-11, 265-pound center, on Feb. 5 in a trade that sent Sidy Cissoko and two second-round draft picks to the Washington Wizards.
Valanciunas started 82 games for the New Orleans Pelicans last season, averaging 12.2 points, 8.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists. This season, he has averaged 11.0 points, 7.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 57 games for the Wizards and Kings.
This story was originally published March 2, 2025 at 3:46 PM.
