Knee injury to sideline Haliburton for rest of regular season

Promising Kings rookie Tyrese Haliburton has hyperextended his left knee and is expected to miss the rest of the 2020-21 regular season, per a team press release. An MRI examination revealed the injury.

The 28-37 Kings are currently the No. 12 seed in the West, 3.5 games behind the Spurs for a play-in tournament berth. The club’s statement did not disclose whether or not Haliburton would be available for a potential postseason appearance.

Sacramento selected the 6’5″ Haliburton, 21, with the No. 12 pick out of Iowa State during the 2020 draft. In 58 games (including 20 starts) with the Kings, Haliburton has averaged 13.0 PPG, 5.3 APG, 3.0 RPG, and 1.3 SPG across 30.1 MPG. Haliburton is boasting a solid slash line of .472/.409/.857.

The injury, suffered Sunday in a game against the Mavericks, will not require surgical treatment. Haliburton, a leading contender for Rookie of the Year honors, will be missing Sacramento’s final eight games, including a game tonight.