Malik Monk will miss the upcoming play-in tournament as he recovers from a left calf strain, the Sacramento Kings announced. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Monk will be reevaluated in two weeks, potentially returning during the early stages of a first-round playoff series—if the Kings advance that far.
Monk sustained the injury on Monday during a game in Detroit, exiting with 1:38 left in the opening quarter. This setback comes during a strong campaign in which he has started 45 of 65 games, posting career-best numbers with averages of 17.2 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 5.6 assists in 31.6 minutes per game. He’s shooting .439 from the field, .325 from beyond the arc, and .865 at the free-throw line.
Initially serving as a bench player at the start of the season, Monk was moved into the starting lineup on December 1 by former head coach Mike Brown. After returning from a prior injury on March 27, he resumed his role as the team’s sixth man.
Monk’s absence is a major blow for Sacramento, which is currently trying to secure home court advantage for the 9-10 play-in matchup. With a 39-40 record, the Kings are narrowly ahead of Dallas by a single game.
In response to the roster gap left by Monk, Sacramento re-signed guard Terence Davis earlier today.
