The Kings announced guard Kevin Huerter suffered a left shoulder dislocation and a labral tear in Monday’s game against the Grizzlies, as The Sacramento Bee’s Jason Anderson relays (Twitter link). Treatment options are still being evaluated but there is no timetable for Huerter’s return.
As FOX40 Sacramento’s Sean Cunningham observes (Twitter link), Grizzlies guard Ja Morant is out for the rest of the season with a labral tear. While that might not be the case for Huerter, time is running out for him to make a return with the regular season set to end on April 14. Regardless, it’s a tough blow for the Kings.
Huerter is averaging 10.2 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game this season while shooting 36.1% on three-pointers. He’s a key piece for the 40-28 Kings, having started 59 of his 64 appearances, with an average of 24.4 minutes per contest.
The Kings are in sixth in the Western Conference, just a half-game ahead of the Mavericks and the Suns to avoid the play-in. They’re also 2.0 games behind the Pelicans for fifth in the West. Keon Ellis started in Huerter’s place on Wednesday, recording six points and four steals in a 34-point win over the Raptors.
Unfortunate for Huerter but the Kings are 7-0 when starting Ellis.
7-1 now. They always play up or down to competition. Hence their record vs the wolves and nuggets this year
Yep and they lost to Portland, Pistons, Hornets, and now Wiz. 4 of the worst teams.
Didn’t beat Houston in 3 match ups and Pelicans have beat them in each match too.
Pels are and have been higher seeded all year, not sure why they made that list but nonetheless it’s true. The play to their competition more than any other team in the league. Consistency for Keegs, healthy Fox/Sabonis, locked in Keon. If all of those things don’t happen they’ll be in the play in
See ya ginger
Huerter is too injury prone…
Oh wow. One of the dumbest statements I’ve seen in a while. Kevin has been in the NBA for 6 seasons now (5 and 3/4 I guess). And in those seasons he’s averaging 68.8 games per season assuming he’s not going to play again this year.