Kings SG Kevin Huerter (ankle) nearing return to action

Dec 3, 2024, 8:36 AM

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 13: Kevin Huerter #9 of the Sacramento Kings shoots the ball agai...

(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Lead Editor & Kings Beat Writer

The Sacramento Kings are off to a rough start to the regular season, and the injury bug has made things worse.

Sacramento (9-12) enters play on Tuesday night having lost seven of its past nine games, a start that has added even more pressure to a season that had high expectations following back-to-back postseason appearances (NBA Playoffs in 2023, NBA Play-In in 2024).

During the early stages of the season, the Kings lost Domantas Sabonis, DeMar DeRozan, Malik Monk, Trey Lyles, and Kevin Huerter to injuries. While Sabonis, DeRozan, and Monk have since returned, Sacramento is currently without two key rotation pieces: Huerter (ankle) and Lyles (calf).

Kings head coach Mike Brown recently made the switch to place prized Sixth Man of the Year candidate Malik Monk into the starting lineup for the first time in his Sacramento tenure, ensuring that Huerter will remain in a reserve role for the foreseeable future.

“I thought the [starting] group looked good,” Brown said of his new-look first five following Monday’s practice. “Now that I’m here, I’m going to give it a long look.”

Kevin Huerter was a full participant in today’s practice and will be listed as questionable vs Houston.

— Frankie Cartoscelli (@FCartoscelli3) December 2, 2024

With Monk in the starting unit, an already thin Kings bench will need its members to step up, meaning that Huerter could be looked to for an added scoring punch upon his return.

Huerter, who suffered a right ankle sprain during Sacramento’s loss in Portland on Friday, was a full participant in Monday’s non-contact practice. The Kings have listed Huerter as questionable for Tuesday’s matchup against the Houston Rockets at Golden 1 Center, meaning a return is near for the 26-year-old.

After following up a career year in 2022-23 with a roller-coaster 2023-24 campaign a year ago, Huerter is still searching for his offense during the early stages of this season. Over 18 appearances, Huerter is averaging 8.9 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 2.1 assists on 40 percent shooting from the field and 27 percent from deep.

Struggles aside, Sacramento needs all the help it can get in the second unit. The Kings enter play on Tuesday holding the third-worst scoring bench in the NBA (25.8 points per game). Huerter’s shooting will be relied on–possibly even more so than it was in the starting unit–with Monk now slotted into the starting unit.

Along with Huerter’s impending return, Trey Lyles (grade 1 calf strain) continues to work his way back to the hardwood.

Lyles, who suffered the injury on November 25th against Oklahoma City, is one week into his three-to-four-week recovery window before Sacramento’s training staff re-evaluates the veteran forward.

With Lyles sidelined, the Kings have called on two-way rookie forward Isaac Jones, who has held his own over the past four games, averaging 8.3 points and 3.8 rebounds per game on 65 percent shooting from the field (17.6 minutes per contest).

When is the next Sacramento Kings game?

Sacramento will face the up-and-coming Houston Rockets at Golden 1 Center on Tuesday night.

Last season, the Kings were swept by the Rockets, losing all three games in the regular-season head-to-head series.

Be sure to catch all of the Kings vs. Rockets action right here on Sactown Sports 1140 AM, with pregame coverage starting at 2:00 PM PT on The Drive Guys before action tips off at 7:00 PM PT from downtown Sacramento.