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Kings’ Malik Monk is out at least two weeks with a sprained ankle
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Kings’ Malik Monk is out at least two weeks with a sprained ankle

Sacramento Kings guard Malik Monk will be out at least two weeks with a moderately sprained right ankle, the team announced Monday.

Monk suffered the injury early in the second quarter against the Phoenix Suns on Sunday night when he stepped Mason Plumleehis leg when he tries to close a corner hit by Grayson Allen.

After lying on the ground for a few moments, Monk got off the field. He did not return to the game.

X-ray imaging showed no structural damage to Monk’s ankle.

“Malik is obviously big for us,” De’Aaron Fox told reporters in Phoenix. “He’s the sixth starter. He can start for a lot of teams … if he’s out for a while, obviously like last year, it hurt us a lot.”

Monk averaged 13.6 points, 3 rebounds and 2.9 assists in 25 minutes through Sacramento’s first 10 games.

“He’s had a great season for us so far,” coach Mike Brown said. “He’s another ball-handler, a playmaker, defensively he’s done a fantastic job, and to lose someone as dynamic as him, it’s tough, but … the next man up. You’ve got to we have a next-man-up mentality.”

The Kings (6-5), who lost to the San Antonio Spurs 116-96 on Monday night while playing without Monk, play six games over the next two weeks before the reevaluation date.