With only four regular-season games remaining, the Kings are fighting for that ninth spot in the West standings to gain a slight edge in the Play-in tournament. They are tied in wins with the tenth-seeded Mavs with a game to spare. So, they headed into tonight’s Pistons clash hoping to increase that gap. But things took an unfortunate turn when their star player, Malik Monk was forced to leave the game midway due to a health issue.

Well, Monk abruptly subbed out of the game in the closing minutes of the opening quarter after spending only six minutes on the court. It was later reported that he was done for the night and would not return. Reason? A calf injury.

While it’s not clear when Malik got injured, he ran into a screen by Isaiah Stewart just seconds before subbing out. So, there is a chance the collision might have hurt his calf. Monk’s night ended with only 2 points on 1 of 3 shooting. Of course, that was a huge blow to the team because he has been one of their key players all year, averaging 17.4 points and nearly six assists.

As expected, the Kings immediately felt the effects of Monk’s departure. Before he left, they were trailing by only two points, but the Pistons took over in the second quarter and finished the first half with a ten-point lead. With Malik out, Devin Carter is likely to see an increase in playing time. Last year, Monk proved his worth by finishing second in the Sixth Man of the Year race. So, he has been upgraded to the starting role for the majority of this season. Hopefully, his injury is not serious because the Kings’ struggles would increase without him.

Kings’ problems increase with concerning injury update for another key star

Before Monk got injured, the Kings were already dealing with multiple key players being sidelined. Well, Keegan Murray missed his second straight game tonight due to back issues. He is a regular starter on the team, averaging 12.5 points and nearly seven rebounds. And the Kings are missing his versatile length.

Another major setback is the latest update about young star Jake LaRavia. Well, the forward has not suited up since March 25 due to left thumb contusion. Unfortunately, recent reports revealed that the diagnosis has now been changed to a fractured left thumb, making his timeline for return uncertain.

That means another versatile big, averaging 6.1 points and nearly three rebounds, is out indefinitely. Right now, the Sacramento team’s sole focus is on booking that ninth spot and qualifying through the Play-in tournament. But the challenge is getting more difficult with each game due to their injury woes. Do you think they can make it to the playoffs despite the shorthanded roster?