SACRAMENTO — The Sacramento Kings are expected to get All-Star forward Domantas Sabonis back on Friday night after a 27-game absence due to a partially torn meniscus in his left knee, league sources told ESPN.
Sabonis is officially listed as questionable but the team anticipates his return against the Washington Wizards, capping a two-month recovery process for Sabonis, who opted against surgery and carefully rehabbed the knee.
Sabonis returns at the high point of what has been a down season for the Kings. They are 11-30, stuck near the bottom of the Western Conference, but have won a season-high three consecutive games — over the Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers and New York Knicks — to open a season-long seven-game homestand.
Sabonis is in his fifth season with the Kings and remains a name to watch as the Feb. 5 trade deadline nears. He has three years and $136.3 million left on his contract and the rebuilding Kings, under new general manager Scott Perry, have been open to discussing trades for all their high-priced veterans, league sources said.