Keegan Murray is back on the court for the Sacramento Kings, but his return has already come with fresh worry. The 26-year-old forward made his comeback on Sunday, 8 November, against the Miami Heat after seven games out with a left ankle problem, only to take a frightening fall in the second quarter and finish the night with a sore right wrist. It was a short, eventful return for a player the Kings badly need healthy.
Here is the latest on Keegan Murray, his injury situation, and what his return means for a Sacramento side that has made a dreadful start to the 2026-27 season.
Keegan Murray returns after seven games out
Murray had not played since 23 October. Left ankle capsulitis, an inflammation of the joint capsule in the ankle, kept him out of Sacramento’s next seven games, and the Kings eased him back slowly against Miami. He came off the bench behind De’Andre Hunter and did not check into the game until more than four minutes had passed in the first quarter.
By the end of the night he had played 22 minutes, spread across the game in short spells. He played stints of six, four and five minutes in the first three quarters before playing the final 7:46 of the fourth quarter. It was a cautious return, and one the Kings had planned carefully after Murray’s recent injury history.
The scary fall against the Heat
The drama came in the second quarter. Murray went up to contest a shot from Miami’s Bobby Portis, who went underneath him, and the Kings forward crashed hard to the floor. The crowd at Golden 1 Center fell silent as Murray stayed down, and for a moment it looked like another long absence could follow.
The good news is that Murray managed to brace for impact and did not land on his head. He stood up on his own, did not need to go back to the locker room, and after being subbed out briefly he returned to the game with 6:01 remaining in the second quarter. He stayed in the game for the rest of the night and dodged what could have been a serious injury.
Even so, the fall left its mark. Murray’s right wrist was sore afterwards, and he was listed as questionable for Tuesday’s game against the Orlando Magic. Reports on Monday indicated he had been cleared to play and would likely take up his usual bench role, but the Kings will keep a close eye on him.
A season interrupted by injuries again
For Murray, the ankle problem is the latest chapter in a frustrating run of injuries. He played just 23 games in the 2025-26 season after ankle trouble plagued him all year, a sharp drop after playing at least 75 games in each of his first three seasons in the league. Before his return on Sunday he had played only two games this season, starting both, and the Kings were 1-7 when he came back.
That is a concern for Sacramento on and off the court. Murray’s new contract, worth a reported $140 million, is now kicking in, and the Kings need him to be the reliable two-way forward they paid for. Fans were eager to see what he could do this season after missing 59 games last year, but so far he has barely been on the floor.
His shooting is another area to watch. As a rookie Murray shot 41.1 percent on 6.3 three-point attempts per game, setting an NBA rookie record for made threes. His outside shooting numbers have decreased in each season since, and rediscovering that shot would be a major boost for a Kings team short on offensive consistency.
Where Murray fits in the Kings rotation
While Murray was out, Precious Achiuwa filled in as the starting power forward, and De’Andre Hunter started ahead of him on his return. The Kings are in the middle of a rebuild, and Murray is expected to play a big role as one of their young bright spots once he is fully fit.
The challenge for head coach Doug Christie is balancing Murray’s minutes. The Kings need his defence, rebounding and shooting, but rushing him back too quickly risks another setback. Sunday’s careful 22-minute outing suggests the plan is to build him up gradually, with the hope that he can return to the starting line-up soon.
What comes next for Keegan Murray
The immediate question is the wrist. If he plays against Orlando on Tuesday, it will be another step towards a normal role. Beyond that, the Kings need a run of games from Murray, something he has not managed for more than a year.
Sacramento started the season 1-7 and has been badly hit by injuries across the roster, with Ben Simmons out for the year and several other players missing time. Getting Murray back, and keeping him back, is one of the few things that could steady a difficult season.
For now, Kings fans can be relieved that the fall against Miami was not as bad as it looked. But until Murray strings together a run of healthy games, his fitness will remain one of the biggest talking points around the team. For more celebrity and sports news, visit the Celebrity Hub homepage.