Skal Labissiere leaves game vs. Lakers with sprained ankle

SACRAMENTO, CA - MARCH 19: Justin Jackson
SACRAMENTO, CA - MARCH 19: Justin Jackson

Skal Labissiere sprained his ankle on April 1 against the Los Angeles Lakers.  Continue reading for more about his injury.

Skal Labissiere just cannot catch a break.  The Sacramento Kings big man was finally healthy and playing significant minutes for 17 straight games, but it appears that is coming to an end fast.

The Kings kicked off April by traveling to Los Angeles to face the Lakers.  The night ended well for the team as they picked up an 84-83 victory, thanks to some clutch shooting from De’Aaron Fox.  Skal Labissiere on the other end came down with an injury.  Below is a Tweet from Jason Jones describing the injury.

The injury

Labissiere looks to be facing another uphill battle.  He did not return after playing 17 minutes on Sunday, and Jones later reported that Labissiere left the arena in a walking boot.  That could be just a precautionary measure or the first sign that this is a serious injury that could sideline the big man for weeks.  Remember the Kings only have four games remaining in their season.  Stay tuned for updates on Labissiere as they become available.

Who steps up?

The Kings are no strangers to Labissiere injuries.  Zach Randolph appears to be out for the season as well.  That means the team likely turns to small ball or their two-way players to fill the void.  I expect we see more JaKarr Sampson and Jack Cooley if Labissiere has to miss any time.

Final thoughts

Skal Labissiere sprained his left ankle in the April Fool’s Day game against the Lakers.  Check back for more information on the injury as it becomes available.  The team has no reason to rush Labissiere into action, so do not be surprised to see him miss a few games at least.  The injuries and performance of Labissiere could lead to a bigger picture discussion about his future with the team.  More on that at a later date, though.

Next: Alize Johnson could be a steal of the draft for Sacramento

A Royal Pain brings a unique set of opinions on the Sacramento Kings.  Our team strives to provide articles that fans want, but cannot find anywhere else, so please check back with us often.  Thank you for reading.

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