Domantas Sabonis sustained a fractured right thumb, and is listed as questionable for the Kings’ Tuesday night matchup with the Western Conference-leading Denver Nuggets.
The 7-foot-1 center suffered the injury during the Kings' 125-111 loss to the Washington Wizards on Friday, forcing him to leave the game early. Three days later, the Kings confirmed Sabonis had “sustained an avulsion fracture of the ulnar collateral ligament of the right thumb” after "extensive consultation" with team physicians and outside specialists.
Sabonis is averaging 17.9 points, an NBA-leading 12.4 rebounds and 6.7 assists through 31 games. He has registered a double-double in 10 consecutive contests.
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While Sabonis has been dominant this season, the Kings have struggled to find a reliable No. 2 center behind him. So, if Sabonis does sit out Tuesday, Kings coach Mike Brown must find someone else to match up against two-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic.
Brown has given Richaun Holmes, Chimezie Metu, Alex Len and Neemias Queta a try at backup center this season. In Monday's practice, however, Len ran with Sacramento's starting five.
“Alex is a veteran that knows the league and played at a pretty high level this summer for Ukraine,” Brown told reporters Monday (h/t ESPN 1320's James Ham). “He’s a professional. That’s what I enjoy. He’s always ready. After games when he doesn’t play, he’s up here getting extra wind sprints in, he’s getting his lift on, he comes back at night and gets shots up.
“I have no worry about Alex not being ready if his number is called.”
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While Len has been on the court for just 25 total minutes this season, he has played in 578 NBA games with 235 starts, and averaged 7.6 points and 5.8 points.
Brown might have to make a few adjustments to an offense that almost always runs through Sabonis, but not much should really change. Brown said the Kings have been running the same stuff since training camp began, so "everybody is capable" of filling in the gaps.
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"Everybody has to step up," Kings guard De'Aaron Fox told reporters Monday. "We actually went through roles today. Everybody knows their role. Everybody knows what they need to do. I don't know how much time he's missing, but for however long he's out, everybody knows that they just have to step up.
"It's going to take a village to make up for the production that's going to be missing from him. Obviously, we don't have a big that's going to pass the way he does. ... The offense will look a little different, but we still have the same concept."
While the Kings have overcome many obstacles this season, their biggest test yet could be right around the corner with Sabonis potentially sidelined.