Kings

Holmes out for Kings' next two games with eye injury

Kings

Richaun Holmes will be out for the Kings' next two games after suffering an ugly eye laceration during the win over the Orlando Magic on Wednesday night, the team announced Thursday.

"Today, Sacramento Kings center Richaun Holmes underwent a successful procedure at Kaiser Permanente to repair a right eye laceration. The injury was sustained during the second quarter of Wednesday night's contest versus Orlando. Additionally, Holmes underwent concussion screening and was subsequently cleared of any concussive event. He is expected to make a full recovery," the team statement read.

Holmes took a hit to the eye from Magic center Mo Bamba, which drew blood from the Kings center. He left the game and did not return.

The Kings will take on the Charlotte Hornets on Friday, before a quick turnaround to face the Cavaliers in Cleveland on Saturday night.

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Charlotte is dealing with its own injury issues, as it announced five players, including reigning rookie of the year LaMelo Ball, remain in COVID-19 health and safety protocol and will be out for Friday's game.

Holmes' mother expressed frustration on social media following the incident, as this is the second time in the past two months of Holmes being sidelined by a hit to the eye. Kings interim coach Alvin Gentry also said he would be "perturbed" if he were the big man.

"I think he's got hit in the face and the eye and that area more than anybody in the NBA this year," Gentry told reporters. "I mean if I was him, I would be a little perturbed by the whole thing. So it seems to just happen at the most inopportune times and you know he's back and he's playing well and now all of a sudden, you know, he's got a bandage over the eye again."

 

The Kings will have one more game on their East Coast road trip against the Toronto Raptors, before returning home to face the Washington Wizards on Dec. 15 at Golden 1 Center.