The Kings were dealt what could be a substantial blow in the second quarter of their game against the Charlotte Hornets on Monday at Golden 1 Center.
Sacramento guard Keon Ellis went to the Kings' locker room with just over five minutes left in the first half after injuring his ankle on a play in the paint. In the third quarter, Sacramento officially ruled him out with a right ankle injury.
Keon Ellis headed to the locker room after appearing to injure himself on this play
— Kings on NBC Sports California (@nbcskings.bsky.social) February 24, 2025 at 8:00 PM
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While attempting to block a shot from Charlotte big man Jusuf Nurkić, Ellis came down awkwardly on Nurkić's foot and asked to be taken out of the game after trying to play through it in the second. Up until his injury, Ellis had six points and a steal in nine minutes on the court.
Though Ellis returned to the bench at halftime and went through warmups, he returned to the locker room later in the third quarter. The Sacramento Bee's Jason Anderson reported, citing sources, that Ellis experienced an increase in soreness at the break.
Sources tell me Kings guard Keon Ellis intended to return for the second half, but he experienced an increase in soreness while shooting during the halftime break. https://t.co/8hjaa9bLQn
— Jason Anderson (@JandersonSacBee) February 25, 2025
Ellis is averaging 8.1 points on 47.9-percent shooting, 2.6 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game this season, and has shone as Sacramento's impromptu sixth man since Malik Monk was inserted into the starting lineup.
U.S. & World
The Kings will look to sustain their lead over the Hornets without Ellis and earn a bounce-back win.
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