Kings vs. Hawks gameday: Trae Young, De’Andre Hunter and Sasha Vezenkov injury updates

Two-time All-Star Trae Young will not be in uniform when the Kings play host to the Atlanta Hawks on Monday at Golden 1 Center.

Young has been ruled out after being placed in the NBA’s concussion protocol Sunday. Young suffered a concussion when he took an elbow to the face in the fourth quarter of Saturday’s loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. He left the game with 8:43 remaining and did not return.

The Kings (23-18) are listing Sasha Vezenkov as questionable due to a left ankle sprain. Vezenkov has played well since returning to coach Mike Brown’s rotation two weeks ago. He matched his career high with 14 points in Tuesday’s loss to the Phoenix Suns and shot 53.3% from the field over his past five games.

The Hawks (18-24) will be missing two of their top five scorers. In addition to Young, starting forward De’Andre Hunter is out because of right knee inflammation.

Young is averaging 26.9 points and 10.8 assists. He is shooting 36.4% from 3-point range on 9.0 attempts per game. Hunter is averaging 14.9 points and 4.1 rebounds while shooting 40.4% from beyond the arc.

Scouting Sacramento

The Kings have fallen to eighth in the Western Conference after losing four in a row for the first time since the start of the 2022-23 season. They are a half-game behind the Suns and Dallas Mavericks for sixth in the West.

De’Aaron Fox is averaging 27.9 points, 4.2 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 1.6 steals, but his production has dipped in January. Over the past 10 games, he has averaged 22.7 points on 42.6% shooting.

Domantas Sabonis is averaging 20.1 points, 12.6 rebounds and 8.0 assists. Sabonis and two-time MVP Nikola Jokic are tied for the league lead with 12 triple-doubles. Sabonis has recorded three consecutive triple-doubles and six in the past nine games. He is averaging 22.4 points, 13.5 rebounds and 9.4 assists in January as he closes in on another All-Star selection.

Keegan Murray (16.2 ppg), Malik Monk (15.1 ppg), Harrison Barnes (10.6 ppg) and Kevin Huerter (10.5 ppg) are also scoring in double figures.

Scouting Atlanta

The Hawks are 10^th in the Eastern Conference, one game ahead of the Brooklyn Nets for the final play-in spot. They had won three in a row before suffering a 116-95 loss to the Cavaliers on Saturday.

With Young out, the Hawks will rely more heavily on the likes of Dejounte Murray, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Jalen Johnson, Saddiq Bey and Clint Capela. Murray is averaging 21.1 points, 4.9 rebounds and 5.0 assists. He is shooting 47.1% from the field and 38.2% from 3-point range.

Bogdanovic, who spent the first three years of his career with the Kings, is averaging a career-high 16.8 points per game. He could get his fourth start of the season with Young out of the lineup.

Johnson (15.0 ppg), Bey (12.6 ppg) and Capela (11.2 ppg) are also scoring in double figures. Capela is also averaging 10.4 rebounds and 1.7 blocked shots.

Hawks at Kings

When: 7 p.m.

Where: Golden 1 Center

TV: NBC Sports California

Radio: Sactown Sports 1140

Odds: Kings -8.5

Over/under: 237.5

Injury report

Hawks: OUT — Kobe Bufkin (G League); Mouhamed Gueye (back); De’Andre Hunter (knee); Vit Krejci (shoulder); Wesley Matthews (calf); Trae Young (concussion protocol).

Kings: QUESTIONABLE — Sasha Vezenkov (ankle). OUT — Kessler Edwards (G League); Jordan Ford (G League); Jalen Slawson (G League).

Upcoming schedule

Jan. 22 vs. Atlanta Hawks

Jan. 25 at Golden State Warriors

Jan. 27 at Dallas Mavericks

Jan. 29 at Mempis Grizzlies

Jan. 31 at Miami Heat