Dallas Mavericks power forward Kristaps Porzingis was a late scratch before Wednesday’s road against the Sacramento Kings, delaying plans for him to return from an extended absence due to right knee soreness.
This is the ninth consecutive game missed by Porzingis.
The Mavs declared him available to play against the Kings, but changed plans after he complained of soreness following his pregame warm-up routine.
The Mavs have gone 4-4 without Porzingis, whose recovery was complicated by an illness that prevented him from working out for a few days.
“But this was the plan to come back around this time even if I didn’t get sick,” Porzingis told reporters after the Mavs’ road win over the Golden State Warriors on Monday night.
Porzingis is averaging 17.3 points, 9.4 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game in his first season with the Mavericks.