The Kings lost Kevin Huerter to a shoulder injury early in Monday’s game against the Memphis Grizzlies at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento.
Huerter went down after being fouled by Desmond Bane with 10:09 left in the first quarter. Huerter was attempting a layup when Bane punched the ball, instead hitting Huerter’s left wrist or forearm.
Huerter fell under the basket in obvious pain. Sacramento’s starting shooting guard remained on the ground for several minutes while receiving attention from the team’s medical staff.
Huerter was eventually helped to his feet. He appeared to be holding his left wrist as he was taken back to the locker room for further treatment. The Kings later announced that Huerter would not return due to a left shoulder injury.
Keon Ellis replaced Huerter and started in his place to start the second half. Ellis will likely move into the starting lineup if Huerter misses additional games.
Ellis, an undrafted second-year player from Alabama, started when Huerter missed last week’s game against the Los Angeles Lakers with a right leg contusion. Ellis, who was recently converted from a two-way contract to a standard NBA contract, is 6-0 as a starter this season.
Huerter, 25, is a six-year veteran who left Maryland as a 19th overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft. He spent four seasons with the Atlanta Hawks before the Kings acquired him in a trade in July 2022.
Huerter is averaging 10.4 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.6 assists in his second season with the Kings. He averaged 15.2 points while shooting 40.2 percent from 3-point range last season, playing an instrumental role in helping the Kings end the longest playoff drought in NBA history.
