Something went terribly wrong for the Sacramento Kings just moments after tipoff against the Houston Rockets. Fans had barely settled into their seats before panic set in on the Kings’ bench. Domantas Sabonis—Sacramento’s rock, their everything—suddenly looked off.

Not even two minutes into the game, Doug Christie had no choice but to burn a timeout. And that’s when it got real. Sabonis was clearly in pain, holding the back of his left leg while trying to run back on defense. A second later, Kings’ trainers were rushing to him, and the arena got eerily quiet.

Just like that, Sacramento’s worst nightmare unfolded right in front of them.

Sabonis tried to shake it off, but it was clear he couldn’t continue. Trainers led him straight to the locker room, and before anyone could even process what was happening, the team officially ruled him out for the rest of the game. No “questionable.” No “will be re-evaluated.” Just done. And that’s never a good sign.

How Sabonis’ Injury Could Impact the Kings’ Season

It isn’t just any player losing their standing. That’s Domantas Sabonis—he’s the guy keeping the Kings’ playoff hopes alive. He’s out now with a lower body injury too.

He’s just averaged 19.9 PPG this season, all on a 59.6% shooting clip, and 14.4 rebounds per game (leading the entire NBA, yep).

Sabonis does everything he can do for this team. He’s their offensive engine, their best rebounder, their most reliable player night in and night out. Losing him? That’s catastrophic.

The timing couldn’t be worse. At 31-28, the Kings remain clinging to the 8th seed. It’s been a year of grinding their way back into the mix and now suddenly, with Dallas on the schedule the March 3, things just got way more complicated. That game could finally make or break the Kings’ season right on the Mavs’ heels.

If Sabonis is missing time, Sacramento will have to rely on Jonas Valanciunas to step up. And listen—Valanciunas is solid. But let’s be real. He’s not Sabonis. Plus, he’s not going to orchestrate the offense the same way, bring that elite chemistry with DeMar DeRozan.

Speaking of DeRozan, he is about to have a lot more on his plate. He’s expected to do a ton of scoring and playmaking, but that was never the original game plan. When Sabonis is the hub, this team works best, acting like a point center. Take that away, and the Kings have to change their whole course of action right away.

The scary part? Hamstring injuries are no joke.

You don’t just “push through” a hamstring issue. They’re tricky, unpredictable, and easy to re-injure if you come back too soon. So even though Sabonis is as tough as they come, the Kings have to be smart about this. If they rush him back too early, they risk losing him for even longer.

Right now, Sacramento fans are holding their breath. They’ll have to wait for the next medical update, but one thing’s for sure—if this turns into a long-term absence, the Kings’ season could take a serious nosedive.

And with the Western Conference playoff race tighter than ever, every single game matters.