Yahoo Finance Marvin Bagley III to miss multiple games with left foot sprain
The Sacramento Kings’ bad injury luck has continued with rising star Marvin Bagley III forced to sit out Saturday’s game against the Phoenix Suns and likely to miss the next several as well.
The team announced on Saturday that Bagley is dealing with a midfoot sprain in his left foot, which he suffered after pulling down a rebound in the third quarter of Thursday’s loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Bagley has already missed 22 games earlier this season with a right thumb fracture that came in the season opener. While this injury isn’t nearly as major, it’s yet another bad development in Bagley’s young career.
With the usual caveat of small sample sizes, Bagley has taken a small step back in his second season with fewer points (14.9 vs. 13.7) and rebounds (7.6 vs. 6.9) with worse shooting from two (.534 vs. .495) and three (.313 vs. .212). Regaining — and maintaining — health will be key going forward.
Kings’ young core can’t stay healthy together
The Kings surpassed all expectations last season when they started 30-26 and ultimately finished ninth in the West. Sure, they passed on Luka Doncic in the draft for Bagley, but he appeared to form a nice core with point guard De’Aaron Fox and shooting guard Buddy Hield.
But things have not gone as planned this season. Between Bagley’s two injuries and Fox’s back spasms and ankle sprain, their young trio has only shared the court for 49 minutes this season.
Bagley and Fox could return in the near future, but the Kings have six games in the next nine days, including Sunday’s game at the Denver Nuggets.
The good news is despite being eight games below .500, they're only 1.5 games behind the No. 8 seed Portland Trail Blazers. They'll have to leapfrog the Suns and San Antonio Spurs — plus ward off the Wolves and Memphis Grizzlies, who are each a half-game back — but it’s not too late for a playoff run.
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