By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Two months after being sidelined with a left knee partial meniscus tear, Domantas Sabonis has been listed as questionable by the Sacramento Kings for Friday’s meeting with the Washington Wizards in Golden 1 Center.
The 29-year-old Lithuanian forward/center practiced without limitations on Thursday, leading to an upgraded playing status ahead of the next challenge in the 2025-26 NBA Regular Season.
At the top of his tenth journey in the North American league, Sabonis averaged 17.2 points, 12.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.2 steals, and 0.2 blocks per contest. Being linked to a possible midseason trade, his projected resurgence will likely rekindle rumors heading to the trade deadline on February 5.
In addition, German Dennis Schroder is available for the struggling Kings after serving a three-game league suspension, behind a current 11-30 tally being 6.5 games away from the Play-In zone. French starter Maxime Raynaud and seldom-used Croatian Dario Saric are also in for head coach Doug Christie. However, Keegan Murray (left ankle sprain) is still on the injury report, expected to sit out a couple of more weeks before being re-evaluated.
After an early exit on Wednesday, French Bilal Coulibaly (lower back stiffness) was listed as out by the Wizards, similar to Serbian Tristan Vukcevic (left knee soreness). Among European options for head coach Brian Keefe, only French starter Alex Sarr will suit up against the Kings.
Khris Middleton (right knee injury management) and Trae Young (right knee MCL sprain / right quad contusion) are also sitting out the next game, alongside Cam Whitmore (right shoulder deep vein thrombosis), who was formally ruled out for the remainder of the season.
At 10-29, the team based in the US capital is eight games behind the lowest Eastern Conference Play-In seed.