SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The Kings announced Tuesday that guard Zach LaVine has been diagnosed with a moderate sprain in his left ankle and will be re-evaluated in one week.
LaVine rolled the ankle while driving to the basket with 5:20 remaining in the second quarter of Sunday’s game against the Timberwolves. He remained on the floor for roughly three more minutes, attempted to warm up at halftime, and then returned to the locker room without re-entering.
Through 23 starts, the 30-year-old leads Sacramento in scoring at 20.2 points per game, shooting 48.7% from the field, 38.5% from three-point range and 86.7% at the free-throw line. He has recorded 52 assists and 51 turnovers, and the Kings have been outscored by 13.2 points per 100 possessions during his minutes.
LaVine, who carries a maximum-salary contract that includes a $49 million player option for the 2026-27 season, has been mentioned as a possible in-season trade candidate for the 6-20 Kings.
Rookie Nique Clifford is expected to step into the starting lineup while LaVine is sidelined. Clifford opened last Thursday’s game when LaVine sat out with a thumb issue and started the second half on Sunday after the injury occurred.
In a separate injury update, center Domantas Sabonis will be re-evaluated in the coming days, according to a league source. The team announced on Nov. 20 that Sabonis had a partially torn meniscus in his left knee and would be assessed in roughly three to four weeks, a timeline that reaches the four-week mark on Thursday.
Source: Hoops Rumors
