Kings forward Keegan Murray out long term with sprained ankle

Keegan Murray (YouTube)

According to Rogers Sportsnet on Tuesday, Sacramento Kings forward Keegan Murray of Cedar Rapids, Iowa has sprained his ankle and will not be part of the Sacramento Kings lineup for thee foreseeable future. The estimated time Murray is projected to be out of the lineup is three to four weeks.

Murray suffered the injury with four minutes and one second left in the third quarter on Sunday in a 115-98 Kings loss to the Milwaukee Bucks. With the injury to Murray, the minutes are expected to rise for backup shooting guard Nique Clifford of Colorado Springs, Colorado and center Precious Achiuwa of Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Even though Achiuwa was the starting center for the Kings on Sunday, he only had 15 minutes and 25 seconds of time on the floor.

So far this season, Murray is averaging 14.6 points per game, 6.1 rebounds per game, 1.5 assists per game, 1.6 blocks per game,  and 1.2 steals per game. He also had a field goal percentage of .429, free throw percentage of .789 and three point percentage of .272.

This is the second time this season Murray has had a long term injury. He missed the Kings’s first 15 games because of a torn ulnar collateral ligament, and surgery was required for that ailment. While out with a torn UCL, the Kings signed Murray to a five year contract extension worth $140 million.

Sacramento is the third worst team in the NBA. At eight wins and 29 losses, only the New Orleans Pelicans at eight wins and 30 losses, and the Indiana Pacers at six wins and 31 losses are worse.