Sacramento Kings guard Malik Monk (0) Sergio Estrada-USA TODAY Sports

Kings' Malik Monk feared to have suffered sprained MCL

By Jeff Smith | Last updated 3/30/24

The Kings' loss to the Dallas Mavericks on Friday night was a major hit to their chances of avoiding a play-in game this postseason. But more than that, Sacramento may have also lost the front-runner for the NBA Sixth Man of the Year award, Malik Monk.

Monk, averaging 15.6 points, 5.2 assists and 3.0 rebounds per game this season, left the game after just one minute on the floor when he landed awkwardly attempting to defend a layup attempt by Luka Doncic.

Malik Monk went to the Kings' locker room after this collision with Luka Dončić

Praying he is okay pic.twitter.com/MMdz0FZLlJ
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) March 30, 2024

Shortly after the game, The Athletic's Shams Charania reported that Monk is feared to have suffered a sprained MCL in his right knee. He'll undergo further testing to determine the severity of the injury.

If Monk ultimately faces any extended absence, which appears likely based on Charania's report, it'd be a brutal blow to the Kings ahead of the postseason. With Monk out of the lineup, Sacramento relied heavily on their first unit, with only three players receiving double-digit minutes off the bench on Friday.

Davion Mitchell was the only player to see any substantial playing time, logging 19 minutes in Monk's absence, while Alex Len and Kessler Edwards played 12 and 11 minutes. Sacramento's bench was held to just 19 points, with Monk scoring two before suffering the injury.

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