Sacramento Kings Center Domantas Sabonis Handed One Game Suspension
Mar 9, 2022, 10:15 AM
(Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images)
As soon as Domantas Sabonis made contact with referee Joshua Tiven on Monday night, it was a foregone conclusion that the Sacramento Kings center was going to be suspended.
The official word came from the NBA on Wednesday that Sabonis will be suspended for one game following the incident during Sacramento’s loss to the New York Knicks.
Sabonis’ outburst resulted in the first ejection of his five-year career.
The 25-year-old center will serve his one-game suspension on Wednesday night when the Kings face the Denver Nuggets.
Reigning MVP Nikola Jokic has thrived in three matchups against Sacramento this season, averaging 25.3 points, 10.7 rebounds, and 9.0 assists per game (three wins).
Kings center Richaun Holmes (personal reasons) will also be sidelined on Wednesday, leaving Sacramento thin at the center position. Damian Jones, Alex Len, and Neemias Queta are expected to be available for head coach Alvin Gentry.
Sabonis’ absence comes at a time where the Kings are hanging onto their Play-In hopes by a dangling thread, entering play on Wednesday four games back of the 10th-seed New Orleans Pelicans with 15 games left in the season.